Airports across Europe are reintroducing the 100ml liquid limit after the new security scanners experienced a ‘technical issue’.
Some airports in the European Union (EU) had scrapped the strict 100ml restrictions on liquids, but were today forced to reinstate their old policies, the BBC reports.
Officials say the 100ml rule has returned while they troubleshoot an undisclosed technical issue with the new scanners, which use CT X-ray technology that should enable larger volumes to liquids to go through security.
While specific details surrounding the issue have been withheld, reports suggest that the scanners were not accurate for some liquid containers that were being carried in travellers’ hand luggage.
The Airports Council International (ACI) estimates that around 350 of the new scanning machines were in use across 13 EU countries. Most countries were still in the trial phase and had not yet relaxed their liquid restriction policies.
Some airports in the European Union had scrapped the strict 100ml restrictions on liquids, but were today forced to reinstate their old policies (stock image)
The new scanners use CT X-ray technology that should enable larger volumes to liquids to go through security
The 100ml rule was introduced in 2006 following a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the US with home-made liquid bombs.
The restrictions required passengers to pack up to one litre of liquids or less in bottles of no more than 100ml.
Liquids, it was stipulated, had to be sealed in a clear, plastic bag and removed from bags before being scanned at security.
Some EU airports, including in Rome and Amsterdam, were already using the new scanners and had eased their liquids rules. But the EU in July reinstated the 100ml limit so it could address the equipment issue.
ACI Europe previously criticised the restriction as a ‘setback for the passenger experience and a blow to major investments made by airports’.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of the organisation, said that security has a top priority but argued the airports that were ‘been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised both operationally and financially’.
He also claimed the restriction use of the scanners poses questions about the ‘trust and confidence the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment’.
Officials say the 100ml has been reinstated while they troubleshoot an undisclosed technical issue with the new scanners, which use CT X-ray technology that should enable larger volumes to liquids to go through security (File photo of an advanced security scanner)
The restrictions required passengers to pack up to one litre of liquids or less in bottles of no more than 100ml. Liquids, it was stipulated, had to be sealed in a clear, plastic bag and removed from bags before being scanned at security (file photo)
The UK was predicted to scrap its 100ml rules this year, but many airports did not meet the previous Tory Government’s deadline to have the required state-of-the-art scanning equipment installed by June 2024.
Smaller airports, including London City, Teesside, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Aberdeen and Southend, successfully complied to the requirements and dropped the old liquids rules.
But bigger airports like Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester did not meet the deadline.
The Department for Transport (DfT) in mid-June re-introduced the 100ml policy at the few UK airports where it had been dropped, sparking outrage from airport bosses.
Neither the European Commission nor the UK Government have provided a timeline for when the rules will be relaxed again.
Confused about the 100ml rule? MailOnline reveals what liquid rules are in place and where – and which airports have installed the new scanners
By Sophie Foster, Deputy Travel Editor for MailOnline
Many UK air passengers are struggling to make sense of the rules around taking liquids in hand luggage through airport security as new scanners are rolled out.
Summer travellers were being met with long queues after airports that had launched the new scanners amid confusion over liquid restrictions.
But in June the Department for Transport (DfT) re-introduced 100ml restrictions on liquids being carried in cabin bags at six other regional UK airports with next-generation scanners.
Confused? We’re not surprised. Here we explain all…
Presently – all UK airports are operating the 100ml liquid rule, regardless of the scanners in place.
But airports with new scanners have more flexibility around how cabin bags move through security.
Many UK air passengers are struggling to make sense of the rules around taking liquids in hand luggage through airport security as new scanners are rolled out. Currently, all UK airports are operating a 100ml liquids rule – meaning liquids can be placed in hand luggage but must be split into containers not exceeding 100ml
Long queues have been forming at Birmingham Airport (above) over the summer – which has launched the new scanners – amid confusion over liquid restrictions
London City, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford, Southend and Teesside airports, have all installed new 3D CT- (computed tomography) based scanners in security halls and had scrapped the 100ml rule. Thanks to their new technology, passengers could bring up to two litres of liquids in any bottle size in carry-on luggage and not remove them at security.
However, on June 9, these airports were ordered to return to the 100ml liquid rule despite running the next-generation security checkpoints (NGSC), which create a 3D image of what is inside passengers’ bags, allowing them to better identify objects.
Laptops and tablets, however, can remain in carry-on luggage.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told MailOnline earlier this year: ‘From Sunday 9 June, 2024, 100ml restrictions on liquids will temporarily be reintroduced for passengers travelling from six regional airports where Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) are in full operation.
‘This temporary move is to enable further improvements to be made to the new checkpoint systems and will only affect a small number of passengers.
‘For most passengers, security measures will remain unchanged.
‘Passengers should continue to check security requirements with their departure airport before travelling.’
Passengers who pack liquids in bottles of over 100ml will be subject to manual checks at the airport and those items will be at risk of being discarded.
At airports with new scanners, whether travellers are required to pack their liquids in clear, plastic bags, remove them from luggage or can pack more than one litre of liquid in multiple containers is up to the individual airport, the Department for Transport confirmed to MailOnline Travel.
What if you are travelling from a different airport than the six targeted by the Department for Transport?
A number of the UK’s major airports have already installed some of the new checkpoints in security halls – however none have yet changed their liquid rules.
London Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh all have at least some of the new 3D-scanners in place. However, as their new security halls are incomplete and some old scanners still remain none have changed their liquid rules.
This means you should still follow the 100ml rule, and other liquid restrictions, that have been in place for the past 18 years at all three airports.
London Gatwick, East Midlands Airport and London Heathrow have not yet introduced any new scanners and so their security halls are unable to comply with new restrictions and the 100ml rule remains in place for the foreseeable future.
What happened at Birmingham Airport?
The airport had installed the new scanners, but has been limiting liquids to 100ml ‘due to an outstanding regulatory restriction’, Nick Barton, CEO, told the BBC.
The airport blames passengers for the long queues, accusing them of incorrectly packing their bags.
The problem was exacerbated, a source told The Independent, by the new scanners misidentifying innocent items, such as sun cream, as ‘threats’.
Travel expert Nicky Kelvin tested out London City Airport’s ‘fancy’ new scanners in May
A passenger is pictured walking past an explainer about baggage rules at London City airport, which has installed new scanners
Why was the 100ml rule introduced?
The 100ml rule was introduced in 2006 following a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the US with home-made liquid bombs.
The restrictions required passengers to pack up to one litre of liquids or less in bottles of no more than 100ml.
Liquids, it was stipulated, had to be sealed in a clear, plastic bag and removed from bags before being scanned at security.
Thanks to Nicky Kelvin at The Points Guy for permission to run his scanner image.