Blow to travellers as UK airports delay move to scrap 100ml liquid hand luggage rules
TRAVELLERS will be forced to remove liquids from their hand luggage for a while longer as UK airports delay scrapping the rule.
Airport bosses had been told to install next-generation CT scanners by June this year.
But Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester do not expect to have them all ready by then.
The Times reported they will have until the end of the month to apply for "alleviation" from the Department for Transport (DfT).
However ministers want to see a "good business case" detailing the reason for the delay.
Penalties have not been ruled out and it is expected airports will be given until next year to complete the project.
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It was revealed in December 2022 that airports in the UK were going to ditch the ban on liquids over 100ml by 2024.
The new rules mean that passengers travelling through UK airports will be able to take up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage.
Passengers will be able to keep everything in their bags instead of being asked to remove laptops and ditch liquids over 100ml at screenings.
Luggage will then pass through special CT scanners which allows airport security to inspect bags from a 3D image.
It will be a vast improvement from the 2D images currently used.
This is likely to have a huge impact with hopes that the change will significantly improve wait times at security.
Restrictions on the size of liquids were put into place in 2006 after terror attack using liquid explosives was thwarted at Heathrow.
Trials of the technology began at the UKs largest airport in 2019 and are also taking place at Gatwick.
Teesside Airport was one of the first to scrap the liquid rules, followed by London City Airport.
Despite the removal of the large liquids ban, other hand luggage restrictions will remain in place, including a ban on sharp objects.
It's not just drinks that are banned either, there are also restrictions on certain food items at security.
The Sun has approached the DfT for comment.
Items you can't bring in your hand luggage
You cannot take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:
Chemicals and toxic substances
- oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
- acids and alkalis (for example spillable ‘wet’ batteries)
- corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
- vehicle batteries and fuel systems
- self defence or disabling sprays (for example mace, pepper spray)
- radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
- poisons or toxic substances (for example rat poison)
- biological hazards (for example infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
- materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
- fire extinguishers
Ammunition
- blasting caps
- detonators and fuses
- imitation explosive devices (including replica or model guns)
- mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
- fireworks and pyrotechnics
- smoke canisters
- smoke cartridges
- dynamite
- gunpowder
- plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
- flares
- hand grenades
- gun cigarette lighters