London airport scraps hectic 100ml liquid rule

An airport in the UK has become the first to allow liquids to be taken through security in quantities over 100ml, as well as allowing people to leave laptops, smart devices, and other electronics in their luggage.

The rules around liquids on aeroplanes have always seemed a little bit strange, for those who don’t understand exactly why they exist.

The truth is, back in 2006 when they were introduced, police claimed that there was a real and genuine threat that explosives could be brought on board concealed in liquid.

In fact, they said that they’d foiled as many as 10 plots involving explosives hidden in such a way.

Now though, technology has advanced to the point where travellers will be able to take up to two litres of water on board, as well as no longer having to take their toiletries along in a separate clear bag.

The government wants the technology installed at all UK airports by 2024, but it has already been brought in at some places, including London City Airport.

Jaromír Chalabala/Alamy Stock Photo

The new machines are capable of taking an incredible high-resolution 3D scan of passengers bags, meaning that they can easily see what is inside them.

These C3 scanners are also in place at Teesside as well, meaning that passengers haven’t needed to get stuff out of their hand luggage since March.

The machines at City Airport go live today, and hopefully they’ll speed up the process at security and make things easier for passengers and staff while not compromising on safety.

The airport’s chief operating officer, Alison Fitzgerald, said that staff had been trained up fully on the new gear, adding that passengers can be safe in the knowledge that it works.

She told BBC News: "The level of processing now through the X-ray is even more secure than it was previously and the machine has the ability to differentiate to between a non-dangerous and a dangerous liquid."

Apparently, the machine still rejects images that it deems to be wrong, but allows staff to deal with potential threats, not ordinary items like water, toiletries, and the like.

Things are set to get quicker, as well.

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Fitzgerald said that there could be a 30 percent increase in the speed of the ‘door to gate’ process, adding: "The whole process is quicker on the basis that previously you needed to empty your bag and put that in multiple trays whereas now it's one bag in one tray and you don't need to take everything out.”

Still, this is only the start – you’ll need to check what the deal is at whatever airport you’re flying out of.

London City Airport is one of the smaller airports out there, so they can make the changes a bit easier.

It might take a wee while longer to get everything sorted at places like Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester.

Still, by June 2024 they’ll hopefully all be fully switched over, and the process at security should become much easier for passengers.