See-through clear bags and 100ml see-through bags have become a staple at security checkpoints – but this could soon be a thing of the past. Two years ago, the government introduced a new legislation which told airports to upgrade their screening equipment by June 2024.
The change was set to allow travellers to carry up to two litres of liquids in hand luggage – making tiny toiletries a thing of the past. However, this is now expected to be delayed at most UK airports, while some international airports have already introduced the scanners, causing confusion for those heading abroad this year.
To help people navigate the changes, Matthew Hall, Managing Director for the airport transfers app, hoppa shares how to avoid losing your expensive toiletries or suncream when going through airport security this year, and how to avoid delays.
Once fully in place, the new rules will make it easier and more convenient for passengers to bring larger devices, toiletries and gifts through the security control. But for now you will need to check which rules apply at your departure and destination airports. While the UK government has set the June 2024 target, other countries operate according to their own timelines.
If you depart from an airport with the new scanners and have to go through security again at your connection airport, or when you return, your items could be confiscated if that airport still has the 100ml rule in place. For now, it’s smarter to still pack with the 100ml rule in mind, and if in doubt, always double-check with your airline or the airport in advance, to avoid losing your personal items.
hoppa has also collated the latest UK airport updates in one place, so you don’t risk delays in the coming weeks.
Updates from major UK airports on putting liquids in hand luggage:
Delayed
London Heathrow – Heathrow reportedly told the Civil Aviation Authority that it does not expect the new screening equipment to be up and running until 2025. As such, if you’re travelling through here, make sure liquids in hand luggage remain below the 100ml limit.
London Gatwick - Gatwick operators think it will have made “significant progress” by June this year, but will also not have finished what it called the “major logistical operation” until 2025. Again, if you’re flying from here, follow the current liquid rules to avoid having items taken off you.
London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands - While the new scanners are already in place in several security lanes, the full completion of the project is expected the following year in 2025.
Rolled Out
London City - London City has become one of the first UK airports to fully implement the new scanners, with passengers now able to leave liquids up to two litres, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices inside hand luggage.
Teesside - The airport’s security area has undergone a recent redevelopment which saw the early introduction of the new bag scanners which permit passengers to carry up to two litres per liquid item.
On Track
Leeds Bradford - As part of LBA’s recently announced £100 million regeneration, the airport's security upgrades are expected to be fully operational by February 2024.
Liverpool - Previously, Liverpool John Lennon Airport said that it was aiming to install the new scanners in January 2024. The airport's CEO has now said that this will take place in May or June this year.
Birmingham – The airport is on its way to completing a new +£60m security hall project and is on course to have the new facilities ready by June.
Bristol – The airport said that the new scanners should be up and running by the June deadline.
Other major airports such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow are also working on upgrading their security areas to meet the new requirements. For now, you should assume that the 100ml rule remains in place unless the airport has specified otherwise.
Overseas airports that are already using the new technology:
Ireland - Donegal and Shannon airports have already removed the 100ml restriction back in 2022. Dublin and Cork airports are also expected to follow suit this year, although extra timings are not yet known.
Italy (Rome) - At Terminal 1, and almost all security checkpoints in Rome’s ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ airport's Terminal 3, new hand luggage screening equipment allows passengers to leave any quantity of liquid, aerosols and gels inside their baggage.
The Netherlands (Schiphol & Eindhoven) - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has had the new CT scanners for a while now, and while passengers are still recommended to pack bottles/containers of up to 100ml separately, items which exceed this are still allowed if approved by the CT scan and a member of security staff.
At Eindhoven Airport it is also no longer necessary to remove your liquids from your hand luggage and amounts larger than 100ml are allowed to be brought through.
Sweden (Stockholm) - The new security control in Terminal 5 at Arlanda airport in Stockholm makes it possible to leave electronics and put more liquids in the bag while it goes through the X-ray machine.
Finland (Helsinki) – Since June last year, all security control lanes at Helsinki Airport have been equipped with the new scanners making it possible to increase the liquid limit carried in hand baggage to two litres per passenger.
USA (LAX and JFK) - While many major airports like Los Angeles' LAX and New York's JFK have had CT scanners for several years, the liquid limit is still being enforced for now while the scanners are being rolled out across smaller airports, too.
