Several other UK airports, including Aberdeen, Leeds/Bradford, London City, Newcastle, London Southend, Teesside and Birmingham, all have the new scanners in place but have since reverted back to the 100ml rule – a report by the European Commission, which was sent to the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) last May, outlined there was a “technical issue” with the scanners that prevented the software from reliably detecting harmful substances with content over more than 330ml.
How long will these rules apply for?
A spokesperson for the European Commission told Condé Nast Traveller that while the reinforcement of the restrictions was a temporary measure, they did not have a specific end date. They stated: “The machines themselves, which are of high quality, are not in question. Also, the Commission is not acting on any new threat but responding to a temporary technical issue, in alignment with our international partners.”
How will the new carry-on liquid rules impact tourists?
In theory, seeing as most travellers are well-accustomed to these rules already, there should be little impact from the U-turn. However, some travellers would have booked their flights in advance, believing that the new scanners would be in place by the time of their trip – and, therefore, might not have bought hold luggage.
Tim Hentschel, the CEO and co-founder of HotelPlanner.com, tells Condé Nast Traveller: “Many passengers could now face the dilemma of paying extra to upgrade their luggage to accommodate their toiletries and other liquids.” The price of holding luggage or excess baggage at the airport varies depending on the airline, but it can sometimes cost you more than £95.
Even beyond the last-minute costs and general confusion around the rule changes, airports have experienced severe queues since introducing the new scanners. According to a 2024 report by Which?, Birmingham airport had the worst security wait times of any other UK airport, with an average of 29 minutes. It attributed some of the delays to the work going on to install the machines.
How can travellers best prepare for these new rules?
Tim recommends staying informed and allowing plenty of time. “With yet another U-turn, there is a risk of severe delays due to abnormally lengthy queues to get through security, and this is creating a sense of chaos for those who may risk missing their flights. So it’s now more important than ever to stay informed,” he says.
“It’s advised that travellers stay aware of the additional time spent queuing at security and allow extra time at the airport before departure. The ‘three-hour rule’ has previously been considered enough time. Still, with queues expected to take an hour plus, travellers are heavily advised to reconsider how early they arrive at the airport.”
