UK airports set to ditch 100ml liquid rules in time for summer deadline
Half of the biggest airports in Britain could end up missing a deadline to scrap the 100ml liquid rule in hand luggage.
Last year the UK government announced that all major airports in the UK would need to install new scanners by June 2024, which would allow passengers to bring up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage without having to stick to the existing rules.
Currently, you can take liquids under 100ml but these must be in a re-sealable plastic bag that can be no larger than 20cm x 20cm and cannot exceed one litre. It's worth noting that you’re limited to one plastic bag per person.
The June deadline is proving particularly difficult to meet for the larger airports, which have admitted that they will either partially or completely miss the deadline. If only some scanners are installed - but not enough to serve all passengers in any given airport - then most likely none of its customers will benefit from the more lenient rules.
The 100ml liquids rule is set to be scrapped by June 2024 in major UK airports (Getty Images/iStockphoto)A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures in the world and this cutting-edge technology will enhance security and boost the passenger experience. We are in regular contact with airports as they move towards June 2024 deadline for upgrading their screening equipment and processes.”
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Currently, only London City Airport and Teeside Airport have already installed all the scanners and scrapped liquid rules.
The Mirror has contacted the UK's biggest airports for updates on how the scanner installation is unfolding.
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh will have at least some of the high-tech scanners up and running by June, the Mirror has been told. Some passengers may have to use the old scanners however. It is currently unclear what this means for luggage requirements in general.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: "Work is currently ongoing to install the new scanners at Edinburgh Airport and we’re confident we will have a number of these in place for the majority of passengers to use by June. Replacement of the remaining scanners is scheduled to be complete by late 2024."
Birmingham Airport
The West Midlands airport will have the required amount of scanners up and running by June, it has said. A BHX spokesperson told the Mirror: "We’re on our way to completing our new +£60m security hall, which will ultimately offer customers a speedier and more efficient pre-flight security screening experience. We’re on course to have the new facility ready in June 2024, in line with the Government’s deadline."
Bristol Airport
A spokesperson for the West Country travel hub has said that the scanners will be in place and running by the June deadline. They told the Mirror: "Bristol Airport continues to align ourselves with all regulated guidance issued by the Department for Transport to deliver security requirements and welcome the introduction of new technology which could further improve the airport customer experience in the future from June 2024 onwards. However, customers should be reminded there are no immediate changes to the rules governing what can be taken through security as a result of this initiative, and the current hand luggage restrictions remain in place."
London Gatwick
A spokesperson for Gatwick told the Mirror that the new machines would not be fully installed until the start of next year. They said: "London Gatwick will have made significant progress installing state of the art next generation security scanners by June 2024 in both terminals. We currently plan to have completed the major logistical operation required to install the remaining scanners in Q1 2025, after the busy summer peak period has concluded."
London Heathrow
Heathrow bosses have told the Civil Aviation Authority that it will be “difficult to deliver” new scanners across its 146 security lanes by June, as doing so requires some floors to be reinforced. The work will not be completed until 2025 despite £1billion being invested into making the changes.
A spokesperson for Heathrow told the Mirror that it was "investing a huge amount of energy" into installing the new scanners while "ensuring we keep the operation flowing and our passengers have a smooth security experience at Heathrow during the transition".
London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands
There is a similar situation at Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands, which are all run by the controlling group, MAG. A spokesperson for the firm told the Mirror: "We continue to make good progress at all three of our airports on the introduction of new security screening equipment, as part of the UK-wide programme. This is a complex programme of work requiring the expansion of terminal facilities, while at the same time maintaining operations during construction.
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"We are currently rolling out the new technology lane-by-lane at Manchester and London Stansted airports, with several new lanes already in operation. Work is also underway on major construction projects at both Manchester and East Midlands airports to expand the size of the terminals to accommodate the new equipment. This will see the new scanners in place on a large number of our security lanes by June 2024, with the full completion of the programme expected the following year."
Glasgow Airport
The Scottish travel hub did not respond to questions about its scanners.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
The airport also did not respond to a request of information.
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