New 3D scanners could mean an end to frustrating liquid restrictions at airports, but the UK has been slow to roll out the new technology.
advertisement
There were significant delays at Britain's Birmingham airport this weekend due to confusion over new rules on liquids in carry-on baggage.
Pictures posted on social media showed queues stretching outside the airport from as early as 5am, with some passengers saying they had to wait up to two hours to get through security.
The travel disruption comes less than a week after new rules on liquids in hand baggage were introduced, with several UK airports set to increase the limit from 100ml to two litres due to the introduction of new scanning systems.
However, rollout of the system has been slow and the 100ml rule is still in place, leaving passengers confused about what they can take in carry on baggage.
Why is there confusion over liquidity regulation in the UK?
The UK government had initially given the go-ahead for some airports to increase passenger carry-on liquid limits to two litres following the installation of new CT scanners.
The 100ml liquids limit would have been lifted at these airports from June 1. But logistical errors meant that many airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, were unable to install the new scanners in time.
Other countries that met the deadline had already lifted the 100ml liquid limit.
The UK Department for Transport has now announced that the ban will be temporarily reintroduced at six airports: London City, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford, Southend and Teesside.
Airports say the sudden change in policy has left many passengers confused about what they can take in carry-on baggage during the busiest time of the year.
Industry group Airport Operators Association (AOA) said the changes “came about with little to no notice”.
“Airport operators are also in a difficult position, with very limited time to deploy needed staff and broader resources and no clear indication of when this issue will be resolved,” Chief Executive Karen Dee said in a statement.
Birmingham Airport is one of the travel hubs to have introduced the new scanners but has had to maintain the 100ml rule.
The airline said “significant regulatory restrictions” limiting carry-on liquids to 100 millilitres limit the use of the new hi-tech device, although passengers can leave liquids in their bags as they go through security.
“Despite the 100ml rule still being in place, non-compliant bags containing more liquid than permitted are continually being circulated, leading to equipment inefficiencies and increased wait times for customers,” the company said in a statement.
The airport added that non-compliant bags containing liquids exceeding the 100ml limit could add up to 20 minutes to security screening per passenger.
Why are there 100ml liquid limits at airports?
Since 2006, airline passengers around the world have been restricted to carrying liquids of 100ml or less in their carry-on luggage.
The rules were introduced after British police uncovered a terror plot to detonate liquid bombs disguised as soft drinks on a series of transatlantic flights.
The conspirators planned to assemble and detonate explosive devices during the flight by filling 500ml soda bottles with substances such as hydrogen peroxide, leaving the caps sealed. Common bleach can explode when mixed with other ingredients in certain concentrations.
advertisement
If the plot had succeeded, it is believed it would have been far more destructive than the 9/11 attacks, targeting flights from the UK to at least five airports in the US and two in Canada.
Soon after, a total ban on carry-on luggage was imposed as a precautionary measure, before tests were carried out to see how much liquid could be safely carried on board and the rules were relaxed to introduce a limit of 100ml containers.
The experts determined that it was not practical to mix smaller containers into a larger one to create a highly destructive explosive device on board an aircraft, and that this method would likely fail or detonate prematurely, injuring the culprit but causing little or no damage to the aircraft.
Passengers are currently limited to carrying liquids through security in containers of 100ml or less, up to a maximum of one litre, which must be placed in a transparent, resealable bag and removed from their carry-on luggage as they go through security.
Why is the 100ml liquid rule ending?
After 18 years, the 100ml liquids limit may soon be scrapped in some countries thanks to advanced new security scanners.
advertisement
It uses computed tomography (CT) X-ray technology, similar to that used in the medical sector, to provide clear 3D images of the contents of passengers' bags.
The device can rotate 360 ​​degrees and zoom in, allowing for a thorough analysis that's akin to “digitally unpacking a bag,” says device maker Smiths Detection, which says it's an improvement over the 2D imaging machines currently used at most airports.
The scanners also feature advanced threat detection algorithms that can detect explosives and other hazards, including liquids, according to the UK Department for Transport.
While existing 2D scanners can distinguish between organic and inorganic materials and show items in different colors, CT scanners take this a step further.
Device maker SenseTec says that with the help of AI technology, it can distinguish between liquids such as water, hydrogen peroxide and high-concentration alcohol to provide a more complete picture of electronic devices.
advertisement
“The latest screening technology available is capable of detecting larger quantities of explosive compounds,” the TSA spokesperson further explained.
If suspicious items are found, the bag will be subjected to further inspection by security officers to check for prohibited items. It is hoped that the new scanners will reduce false alarms and therefore unnecessary bag searches.
Would removing the 100ml liquid limit make flying less safe?
Removing the 100ml liquids limit will not make flying any safer – in fact, the Department for Transport says the new scanners will make it safer.
This is because it provides a more detailed picture of what a person is carrying, making it easier to detect potential threats or prohibited items.
It will also streamline the airport experience, reduce security check times and make travel more convenient for passengers.
advertisement
An added benefit is that plastic waste will be reduced as passengers will no longer use dozens of disposable toiletry bottles, but instead use larger containers.
The new technology could also potentially save passengers money by allowing them to bring in water and other beverages from outside rather than relying on pricey airport shops.
When will the 100ml liquid limit be lifted in Europe?
The new CT scanners are already being installed at several European airports.
Italy's Rome Fiumicino airport has had the scanners installed in Terminal 1 since March, while Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports have had them installed in Terminal 1 since February.
New airport security regulations in Spain come into force on 1 February 2024, but many airports are yet to install the latest baggage scanners, which will be phased in over the coming months and years.
advertisement
Barcelona's El Prat and Madrid-Barajas airports want to start installing the new system in summer 2024. Málaga will have it from 2025, while Gran Canaria, southern Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Alicante, Ibiza, Bilbao, Menorca and Valencia will have it from 2026.
Germany's Munich airport has been undergoing a phased upgrade since the beginning of the year, due to be completed in 2025. Frankfurt airport has installed scanner-based fast lanes in some terminals, with more due to be added by the end of the year.
Even if an airport has new scanners, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to take larger liquids on board – the 100ml rule is due to be phased out over the next two years once the scanners are installed, so we recommend checking the websites of the airports you're passing through to avoid confusion and delays.
Passengers may not see the time-saving benefits of the new technology until then, but SenseTec says the simplified system could eventually enable airports to handle 30 percent more passengers per hour.
Do airports outside of Europe have CT scanners?
Even with the new measures in place, passengers are advised to check the rules of their transit or return countries as many destinations have not yet implemented this new technology.
advertisement
If the airport you are returning to does not have a 3D scanner, you may be forced to discard any liquids over 100ml in your baggage.
Only a handful of European airports have plans to install 3D scanners, while several US airports, including Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago's O'Hare and New York's LaGuardia, have started using the new technology.
However, the TSA says it will take years to roll out the technology across the U.S. system, and the 100ml rule (known in the U.S. as the 3-1-1 rule) will remain in place to ensure transportation safety.
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, has also installed new scanners and beefed up security.
How do 3D airport scanners affect electronic products?
Most airports now require you to remove your tablet or laptop from your carry-on baggage before going through the security scanner.
advertisement
CT scanners eliminate this need as they can thoroughly inspect electronic items while they are still in the bag.
Film camera enthusiasts have pointed out that the increased radiation emitted by the new scanners could damage analog film, causing it to become cloudy and fade in color, and some Reddit users have even suggested that their film be inspected manually, though this is left to the discretion of airport staff.
