The UK is pushing forward with its aim to eliminate the need for passengers to limit the liquids carried in their hand luggage to vessels of 100 ml or fewer. This comes as the country has set a goal for implementing CT scanners at its airports, which will also mean that large electrical items can stay in people's bags.

Time for a change

The government's Department for Transport announced this morning that it wants the UK's major airports to have this technology in place by June 2024, giving them around 18 months to realize this ambition. It calls the move the "biggest shake-up of airport security rules in decades," and it will expedite security procedures.

At present, passengers at UK airports, and indeed across the world, have to limit liquids in their hand luggage to vessels of 100 ml or fewer, and store them in a clear plastic bag outside of their main bag. Additionally, you must remove large electronic devices such as laptops for screening. However, the implementation of CT scanners will eliminate these requirements. Transport Secretary Mark Harper stated:

"The tiny toiletry has become a staple of airport security checkpoints, but that’s all set to change. (...) By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats."

London Heathrow Airport Security Sign
Photo: London Heathrow Airport

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How does it work?

As previously mentioned, the new scanners will use CT (computed tomography) technology to allow security agents to examine the contents of passengers' hand luggage in one go. This method, as the Department for Transport explained in its statement today, "essentially provides a 3D image of what's in passengers' bags."

CT scanning is also used in the medical world, where a rotating x-ray tube takes measurements from multiple angles to provide a three-dimensional cross-section of the subject of the scan. UK airports will combine this technology with "highly advanced threat detection algorithms" to expedite and improve security procedures. Harper added that it would be a gradual change, stating that:

"This won’t happen straight away - this is going to take 2 years to be fully implemented. Until then, passengers must continue following the existing rules, and check before traveling."

London Heathrow Airport security sign
Photo: London Heathrow Airport

A long time coming

Existing restrictions on liquids in hand luggage have been in place since 2006, following, as the BBC notes, a foiled terrorist plot that would have seen attackers use drinks bottles to hide explosives. Nonetheless, the process of working towards eliminating them has been ongoing for several years now. Indeed, Simple Flying reported as early as 2019 on Heathrow Airport's CT implementation plans.

The following year, the introduction of CT scanners at Miami International Airport allowed passengers to leave laptops in their hand luggage for screening. In March 2022, upgrades at Shannon Airport meant that the facility was also able to scrap the 100 ml rule. However, while these uses at single airports are a good start, the UK's plans for the coming years will see such technology become properly widespread.

What do you make of the UK government's planned security changes? Have you already used an airport with CT scanners? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: BBC, UK Government