In a major shift for travellers, Heathrow Airport has scrapped the longstanding 100ml limit on liquids in cabin bags, thanks to the rollout of a £1 billion technology upgrade. The new computed tomography (CT) scanners provide 3D imaging of bag contents, allowing passengers to keep their liquids and electronics stowed away during security checks.
This change means an end to the tedious ritual of decanting toiletries into tiny plastic bags and removing laptops from luggage. “Every Heathrow passenger can now leave their liquids and laptops in their bags at security,” said the airport’s CEO, Thomas Woldbye. The move is expected to save an estimated 16 million plastic bags per year.
The liquid restrictions were first introduced in 2006 after a failed plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. However, the outdated rules have long been a source of frustration for travellers, with the failure to comply being a major cause of delays at airport security.
Heathrow is the largest airport in the world to implement the latest scanning technology, which is already in use at several other UK airports, including Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, and Edinburgh. The original deadline for large UK airports to install the new scanners was December 2022, but this was pushed back to June 2024 due to the pandemic’s impact on the aviation industry.
While this change applies only to flights departing from Heathrow, it marks a significant step forward in modernising airport security and improving the passenger experience. Travel experts advise passengers to still check the restrictions at their destination airports, as the rules may vary.
This move by Heathrow comes as a welcome relief for travellers, who have long endured the inconvenience of the liquid restrictions. The new scanners promise a smoother, more efficient security process, allowing passengers to spend more time enjoying their journeys.
