Major UK airport warns passengers to stick with 100ml liquids – despite introducing new scanners
PASSENGERS travelling from Birmingham Airport are being warned over changes to hand luggage rules.
Last week, Birmingham International Airport became the first major airport in the UK to install a series of new CT scanners.
The new CT scanners will allow passengers to carry liquid items of up to two litres in their hand luggage and avoid the need to remove items like laptops and electronics from their bags.
Even though Birmingham International Airport installed the new scanners before the government’s June deadline, the airport has told passengers to only bring liquids of up to 100ml through airport security.
The warning comes following a delay in final regulatory approval.
A statement on the airport’s website reads: “Whilst the change in regulation is to allow liquids up to 2 litres, due to a restriction by the regulator only liquids up to 100ml can currently be carried albeit it can stay in hand luggage and no longer needed to be in plastic bags.”
Passengers travelling from Birmingham International Airport will be able to keep their liquids loose in their hand luggage and they won’t need to be removed from bags at the security area.
The Terminal Operations Director of Birmingham Airport told Travel Gossip: “Whilst the airport is ready with its new security technology, we are awaiting the final approval of the 2L liquid allowance.
“In the meantime, any customers travelling through the airport can take liquids, pastes and gels up to 100ml loose, and no longer in plastic bags, in their hand luggage.
“Additionally, electricals can stay in their bags and do not need to be removed at the security search area.”
It is not yet known when customers travelling from Birmingham International Airport will be able to pack liquid items of up to two litres.
A spokesperson from Birmingham International Airport confirmed the delay to Sun Online Travel.
With airports across the country, and the globe, enforcing a variety of different hand luggage restrictions, Travel trade association ABTA recently encouraged passengers to stick to the current 100ml rules.
This is because many UK and overseas airports don’t have the new scanners in place.
Its message is simply to carry on “as if nothing has changed” for the time being, until more airports have the tech in place.
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Director of Public Affairs, said: “To help everyone enjoy a stress-free experience this half-term, our message is simple – you can’t go wrong if you stick to the current rules around liquids and laptops when preparing your hand luggage.
“The new airport scanners will make things faster and strengthen security once they’re fully implemented.
“While we have this period whereby airports are still working to implement the changes, the best thing to do is travel as if nothing has changed.”
The new airport scanners explained
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot has explained how the new scanners will change the way Brits travel through UK airports.
She said: “The new generation of CT scanners will be a huge boost to passengers flying out of UK airports.
“Laptops and other electronic devices can stay in your luggage and there’s no need to stick to the current 100ml liquid restriction that has been in place for the last 18 years.
“Eventually, you’ll be able to take up to two litres of liquids without having to remove them from your hand luggage.
“But the scanners are a huge logistical nightmare for airports who have to install the new machines while still processing large numbers of passengers via the old ones.
“Birmingham will be the first major UK airport to switch to the new scanners on June 1 – giving travellers a quicker, less complicated security experience. Teesside and London City airports are already using the new system.
“But it’s worth bearing in mind that not all airports across the globe have the equipment.
“You may well be able to fly out with liquids over 100ml – but if the airport you fly home from doesn’t have them yet you could find yourself coming a cropper.
“While we transition over the next couple of years you’ll need to make sure you’re aware of the arrangements in any airport you fly through.”
Which UK airports have the new scanners?
Last year, the Department of Transport implemented a deadline of June 2024 for airports to have the new scanners in place.
Several small airports in the UK have already had the new scanners installed, including Teesside Airport in County Durham, London City Airport in London and Aberdeen International Airport in Aberdeen.
London Luton Airport and Bristol Airport also aim to introduce the new technology by the June deadline, with the latter said to be investing more than £10million in the new security equipment.
What about other UK airports?
Unfortunately, it will be some time before the new 3D scanners are in place at all UK airports, with some of the country’s largest travel hubs set to miss the government deadline.
The likes of London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester Airport have all been given an extension until summer 2025 to make sure they have fully installed the new scanners.
Although work to implement the new technology has begun, they haven’t been able to complete a full transfer from the old scanners.
London Gatwick Airport expects to have its remaining scanners in place by the first three months of 2025, which is thought to be a similar time frame to both London Stansted and Manchester Airport.
Structural problems, and keeping security operations up and running while installing the new machines, have been the source of most of the delays.
The '100ml' hand Luggage rule at UK airports explained
Going through airport security can be a stressful experience, so it's important to be aware of strict hand luggage rules before you travel. Most UK airports will be implementing the following rules:
- All liquid items packed in a passenger’s hand luggage must be less than 100ml
- Liquids include items like gels, aerosols, moisturisers, sunscreen and makeup products
- All liquid items must fit into a 20cm x 20cm sealed plastic bag, before they go through the scanner at airport security
- Electronic items like laptops and tablets must be removed from bags and placed in a separate tray.
New CT scanners have already been installed at Teesside Airport, London City Airport and Aberdeen Airport, which means holidaymakers will be able to pack two litres of liquid in their hand luggage.
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