London City Airport is set to become the UK’s first to scrap 100ml liquid rule – just before millions plan to jet off for their Easter getaways
- The airport, based in the Royal Docks, will introduce new CT scanners this month
- The new limit will be two litres and passengers won’t need to remove laptops
London City Airport is set to become the UK’s first to scrap the 100ml liquid rule – just before millions plan to jet off for their Easter getaways.
New CT machines will use X-Ray technology to take a high-resolution 3D image of luggage, allowing assessors to view it from every angle and obtain a more detailed view of the contents. Current security scanners only produce a 2D image.
It means travellers will no longer have to remove items such as drinks, creams and make-up and put them in plastic bags to go through security.
The new limit for hand luggage will be two litres and passengers also won’t have to remove laptops to be scanned separately.
The airport, located in the Royal Docks approximately three miles east of Canary Wharf, will introduce the shake-up from the end of the month, The Times reported.
London City Airport is set to become the UK’s first to scrap the 100ml liquid rule
Travellers will no longer have to remove items such as drinks, creams and make-up and put them in plastic bags to go through security
It means the new aviation security will be in place for the beginning of the school holidays for many children on April 3 – as well as the Easter weekend from April 7 to 10.
The biggest cause of delays at security is passengers failing to remove items from their bags or travelling with large bottles of liquids and creams.
A survey carried out by Which? at the end of 2022 showed that London City already has the fastest queuing times in the UK for security – with holidaymakers waiting an average of 12 minutes.
Read more: Security limits on cabin bag liquids and the demand for passengers to remove laptops from bags will be axed by next summer
Pictured: Man putting items in clear plastic bag at airport (file photo)
Similar technology is already in place in the US and at airports such as Amsterdam’s Schiphol.
The current limits were introduced in 2006 after British police foiled an Islamic terrorist plot to blow up as many as ten planes using liquid explosives disguised in bottles. It would have been al-Qaeda’s biggest attack in the West since 9/11.
Robert Sinclair, CEO of London City Airport, told The Times: ‘The good news for anyone planning a holiday or a business trip is that we will be the first mainstream UK airport to offer a fully CT security experience from the end of this month.
‘The new lanes will not only cut hassle but also queuing times, which I know passengers will love.’
Other major airports in the UK – such as Heathrow and Gatwick – are set to introduce the new technology by June 2024.
In December Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: ‘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.
‘Of course, this won’t happen straight away – this is going to take two years to be fully implemented.
‘Until then, passengers must continue following the existing rules and check before travelling.’
The CT scanners were originally going to be trialled in 2019 but were delayed by the pandemic.
MailOnline has contacted London City Airport for comment.
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