London airport becomes first in UK to scrap 100ml liquids rule in hand luggage

Getting through security will soon be much easier at London City Airport (Picture: Getty)

London City Airport will scrap the 100ml liquid limits rule in hand luggage just in time for the Easter school holidays. 

The east London airport will be the first in the UK to make the changes to the restrictions, which have been in place since 2006.

This is thanks to new high-tech CT machines, similar to ones used in hospitals, which will replace old scanners. 

They’re able to produce a high-resolution 3D scan of passengers’ bags, meaning staff can easily inspect them from all angles. 

Instead of 100ml, the liquid limit will now be two litres in hand luggage.

Passengers will also no longer have to place creams and cosmetic items in a plastic bag when going through security. 

This also applies to laptops in the new scheme, which won’t need to be removed from flyers’ bags to be scanned separately. 

The east London airport will introduce the new scanners in the coming weeks (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for London City Airport told The Times: ‘A final new CT scanner will be added at the end of March, meaning anyone flying in the run-up to Easter will be able to keep laptops and liquids of up to two litres inside their bags.’

The airport’s chief executive Robert Sinclair noted the tech would help speed up lengthy security queues too. 

He said: ‘The new lanes will not only cut hassle but also queuing times, which I know passengers will love.’

The new machines and liquid rules are set to be rolled out across all major UK airports in the months to come. 

The 100ml hand luggage rule will soon be scrapped (Picture: Getty Images)

Transport secretary Mark Harper outlined new plans back in December 2022 (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

The government announced in December 2022 a deadline of June 2024 to get the new technology set up.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said at the time: ‘The tiny toiletry has become a staple of airport security checkpoints, but that’s all set to change.

‘I’m streamlining cabin bag rules at airports while enhancing security.

‘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.’

Trials of the new and improved scanners have been underway at some of the UK’s busiest airports since 2018.

This has included Terminal 3 in London Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham.

The 100ml rule was first brought in to UK airports back in 2006 after a foiled terror attack plot using liquid explosives at Heathrow. 

The plan was to bring hydrogen peroxide-derived explosives onto transatlantic planes inside soft drink bottles.

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Just in time for the Easter holidays, yay!