October update
Progress on the nationwide rollout of new CT scanners has experienced further delays. As a result, the 100ml liquid rule remains in effect at many UK airports. With no updated timeline currently available, this restriction is expected to stay in place for the foreseeable future. We recommend checking your departure or arrival airport’s website for the latest guidance before you travel.
You may remember last year’s buzz when it was announced that the 100ml limit on liquids was to be scrapped, only for the restriction to be reinstated not long after. Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that many changes are happening within UK airports that could make the airport security process a lot more smoother, and it’s all thanks to the newly installed CT scanners!
CT scanners
The initial buzz stemmed from a deadline set by the Department for Transport in which all major UK airports had to install CT scanners by June 2024. As you’ve probably guessed, this target didn’t achieve nationwide success, primarily due to global supply chain issues. But we’re now a year on and approaching the new 2025 deadline, and things are looking promising!
CT scanners offer a 3D view of luggage which helps airport security officials detect potential threats more effectively. This in turn means that the items passengers once had to remove – electronics and liquids – can now stay inside their luggage whilst going through the scanners, meaning you’ll be spending less time in airport security and more time in Duty Free!
So far, the airports who have fully converted over to CT scanners are as follows: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, London City, Luton, Newcastle, Southend, and Teesside.
Liquid limits
(Almost) gone are the days of sandwich bags and 100ml limits! With the new scanners in place, passengers will soon be able to carry up to 2 litres in their hand luggage. Once all major UK airports have fully converted to using CT scanners, the Department for Transport will be able to lift the 100ml rule entirely.
E-gates
Following an announcement earlier this year, British citizens will soon regain access to e-gates across the EU. Since the UK’s departure from the EU in 2016, British travellers have been required to undergo manual passport checks and receive passport stamps when arriving in EU countries. However, it is expected that from October this year UK passengers will benefit from a more streamlined process, and instead of waiting in the long queues that British holidaymakers have become accustomed to, they will be able to use e-gates where their photograph and fingerprints will be scanned for quicker entry and exit. Some airports in Portugal and Spain have already began the process of allowing Brits through their e-gates, including the popular Algarve destination, Faro!
While the introduction of advanced scanners and revised airport processes lean towards a more seamless travel experience, these rollouts may be introduced across airports at differing rates. Therefore, we advise that you check the specific requirements of your departure and arrival airports to avoid any confusion during this transition.
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Hi Katherine – nothing is ever as straightforward as it might be is it?
I travelled from Gatwick on 20 May and after scanning, my hand luggage went into the queue for checking by a security officer – the culprit? A 100ml bottle of sun cream! 20 minutes later i was on my way…
cheers, Megan
My experience at London City a couple of weeks back suggests we shouldn’t be too optimistic. Yes, I was able to keep my liquids in the bag. But the bag itself took 14 minutes from the time I put it on the ramp to the time I got it back. Nothing particularly special about my bag, it just got put in the “closer inspection” line, along with most of the other bags, (plus my belt and watch and iPad) . Eventually it was the turn of my bag and they decided to remove my aerosol hairspray from the bag of liquids inside my case and subject it to some test, which of course found that it was indeed hairspray. Fortunately I had arrived in plenty of time but the benefit of the new scanners, at least on that day, was precisely zero. I took up City’s invitation to provide feedback, and got a general response reply, but nothing else. And City is my favourite airport. Very disappointing.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your comment.
We’re sorry to hear your experience at London City was disappointing! As with many new implementations, there can be some initial teething issues while both airports and travellers adjust to the changes. Although improvements in processing times may not be immediate, it’s expected that once all airports have fully transitioned to CT scanners, the overall experience will become significantly more streamlined and efficient for you and other flyers.
Kind regards,
Katherine
Zest Car Rental