London City Airport scraps 100ml liquid rule

Security at London City Airport has become a lot easier for passengers from Tuesday as the 100ml liquid limit is scrapped.

Easter and school holidays travellers at the Royal Docks airport no longer have to take out liquids or laptops, tablets and phones from their hand luggage for scanning, thanks to new technology.

Anyone flying through the airport is now allowed liquids up to 2L. It’s the first time the rules have been changed since they were introduced in 2006 following a terror attack using liquid explosives was thwarted at Heathrow.

New CT machines, similar to ones used in hospitals, have replaced the airport’s old machines and are expected to process 30 percent more passengers per hour.

They produce a high-resolution 3D scan of passengers’ bags and allow them to be inspected by staff from every angle. Older machines only produce a 2D image.

A fourth and final CT security lane was set up at the airport at the end of March, prompting a change in the rules for all passengers from Tuesday April 4.

Alison FitzGerald, the airport’s chief operating officer, said: “The new CT scanners will take our passenger experience to another level, reducing the stress and hassle of 100mL liquids in clear, plastic bags and having to unload your hand luggage.”

London City is preparing to welcome close to four million passengers this year.

Teesside International Airport said it became the first in the UK to increase the 100ml limit to two litres, but City airport is the first in London. The change will eventually be rolled out across all major UK airports.

The Government hopes CT scanners will be installed at major airports by June 2024. Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced the plans in December.

“The tiny toiletry has become a staple of airport security checkpoints, but that’s all set to change,” he 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.”

Not all airports are introducing new security technology at the same rate, so the Government advises passengers check security requirements with their airline or destination airport before travelling.

Trials of the new scanners have been under way at airports since 2018, including at Terminal 3 in London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Birmingham.

The technology is already being used in the US and Amsterdam.