A hand luggage warning to holidaymakers travelling through UK airports as passenger numbers surge. New CT scanners are being installed at airports across the country, which will let passengers skip the 100ml liquid rules which have been in place for nearly 20 years.
Security queues are set to be cut right down from 2025 across every single UK airport with the introduction of Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) Scanners. Once in place, they’ll mean passengers can fly with up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage. You also won’t need to take it out your bag at the security check point.
The same applies to electrical goods such as laptops and iPads. Despite the June 1 deadline, which was set by the government, UK airports are installing the new scanners at different times, with many not ready. London City, Bristol Airport and Birmingham are ready to roll with the new rules – but plenty have been given an extension.
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Luke Petherbridge, who is the Director of Public Affairs at ABTA, 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.” Teesside Airport, London City Airport and Aberdeen Airport already have the new system.
Other airports like Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham are all expected to hit the June 1 deadline, too. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the scanners will improve the ‘passenger experience and most importantly detecting potential threats’.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The UK is a world leader at rolling out next generation security scanners – making travel easier for passengers, enhancing security further at UK airports and, over time, we expect this technology to be standard for airport security globally.
“Every country has the right to set their own airport security restrictions, and passengers should continue, as they always have, to check the rules of the airports they are travelling to, via and from.”