Strict liquid rules set to be enforced at all European airports this week – here’s everything you need to know
STRICT liquid rules are set to return at all airports throughout Europe this week, despite some installing new security scanners.
The scanners were set to change things for travellers, making it easier for them to bring liquids in their hand luggage.
Once they're fully installed everywhere, holidaymakers will be able to take much more than 100ml per liquid bottle in their bags and they won't need to take those bottles out to be scanned.
Electronic items like laptops and tablets will also be able to remain in bags while being processed by airport security.
These rule changes were brought in at some airports earlier this summer, with the new tech already up and running.
Several airports in the UK, as well as a few in Europe, like Munich Airport, Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milano Malpensa Airport and Frankfurt Airport already have the new scanners.
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However, the European Commission has since reintroduced temporary restrictions on liquids, following a similar decision made by the UK government.
Therefore, passengers travelling from European airports will need to make sure their liquids do not exceed 100ml once again.
The rules come back into force from Sunday, September 1 - the end of this week - and are set to stay in place for an indefinite period of time, with no date yet announced for them to be lifted again.
It may be a while before they're changed as well, with the EU wanting to wait until there is more consistency to the technology throughout its airports.
All airports operating inside the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, will need to comply with the new rules.
The 100ml restrictions are already in place in the UK, with the Government reintroducing the measures on June 9, 2024 - even though several UK airports had new CT scanners installed at the time.
"They took the decision to invest and deploy C3 scanners in good faith, based on the EU having greenlighted this equipment without any restriction.
"The decision to now impose significant restrictions to their use questions the trust and confidence the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment."
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We've rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
It appears that the UK will be among the first to have the scanners installed at all of its airports, with the previous government giving them a a deadline of June this year to have them in place.
Several have them in place now, but bigger airports like London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester Airport have been given an extension until next summer.
Structural problems, and keeping security operations up and running while installing the new machines, have been the source of most of the delays.
It means that passengers, for the time being, are being advised to stick to the 100ml rules as they have done for years, since they were first introduced back in 2006.
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Meanwhile, this is the advice from airline staff for not getting caught out at airport security.
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