London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2026

London airport becomes first in UK to scrap 100ml liquids rule in hand luggage

London airport becomes first in UK to scrap 100ml liquids rule in hand luggage

London City Airport has scrapped the 100ml liquid limits rule in hand luggage just in time for the Easter school holidays.

The east London airport will be the first in the UK to make the changes to the restrictions, which have been in place since 2006.

This is thanks to new high-tech CT machines, similar to ones used in hospitals, which will replace old scanners.

They’re able to produce a high-resolution 3D scan of passengers’ bags, meaning staff can easily inspect them from all angles.

Instead of 100ml, the liquid limit will now be two litres in hand luggage.

Passengers will also no longer have to place creams and cosmetic items in a plastic bag when going through security.

This also applies to laptops in the new scheme, which won’t need to be removed from flyers’ bags to be scanned separately.

The east London airport will introduce the new scanners in the coming weeks


The airport’s chief executive Robert Sinclair noted the tech would help speed up lengthy security queues.

He said: ‘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.’

A spokesperson added to Metro.co.uk: ‘We’re very pleased that the new machines in operation now and have our full compliment of 4 in place ahead of the Easter getaway.’

The new machines and liquid rules are set to be rolled out across all major UK airports in the months to come.

The 100ml hand luggage rule will soon be scrapped

Transport secretary Mark Harper outlined new plans back in December 2022


The government announced in December 2022 a deadline of June 2024 to get the new technology set up.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said at the time: ‘The tiny toiletry has become a staple of airport security checkpoints, but that’s all set to change.

‘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.’

Trials of the new and improved scanners have been underway at some of the UK’s busiest airports since 2018.

This has included Terminal 3 in London Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham.

The 100ml rule was first brought in to UK airports back in 2006 after a foiled terror attack plot using liquid explosives at Heathrow.

The plan was to bring hydrogen peroxide-derived explosives onto transatlantic planes inside soft drink bottles.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Labour Adviser Arrested on Suspicion of Spying for China Held Privileged Access as Top Party Donor
Turkish Parliament Passes Landmark Bill Granting Conditional Amnesty to Disarmed PKK Members
Donald Trump Warns FIFA Against Ousting Gianni Infantino Amid Revolt by Global Football Leaders
Jeff Bezos Joins Investor Group Closing In on $6 Billion Liverpool FC Stake
Police Conduct Cross-Border Raids Against Northern England Drug Network
Nicola Sturgeon Protested at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Event
Major UK Retail Chain Enters Administration With One Hundred Fifty-Four Stores Set to Close
Heathrow Renews Call for Runway Expansion After Losing Europe’s Busiest Airport Ranking
Government Condemns One Million Pound Thames Water Executive Bonus Amid Drought
NHS England Says More Than One Hundred Thousand Hepatitis C Patients Have Been Cured
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband Calls for End to West Bank Settler Violence
UK Prepares for Deepest Partial Solar Eclipse Since Nineteen Ninety-Nine
UK Heatwave Triggers Amber Health Alerts as Economic Losses Reach Four Point Four Billion Pounds
UK Offers Electricity Bill Discounts to Communities Hosting New Power Infrastructure
Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at Three Point Seven Five Percent
UK Government Moves to Ban Subscription Traps and Misleading Retail Discounts
Andy Burnham Gives Councils New Powers to Block Betting and Vape Shops
UK Councils to Receive Sweeping Planning Powers to Ban New Vape and Betting Shops
Nicola Sturgeon Says She Has No Contact With Estranged Husband After SNP Embezzlement Case
Police Arrest Two Men After Aberdeenshire Defense Technology Office Break-In
Greater Manchester Councils Gain Powers to Restrict New Vape and Betting Shops
Coroner Finds Treasury Workplace Failures Contributed to Personal Assistant’s Suicide
English and Welsh Courts Ban Meta Smart Glasses Over Recording and Privacy Risks
Strait of Hormuz Disruption Could Double UK Inflation and Trigger Recession, Forecasters Warn
UK Expands Global Talent Visa Scheme to Support Research-Intensive Companies
UK Equity Funds Suffer Record One Point Six Billion Pound Outflow Amid Capital Gains Tax Fears
Three-Quarters of England Enters Drought as Fifth Summer Heatwave Raises Economic Risks
UK Hiring Stabilizes for First Time Since 2022 as Employers Adjust to Higher Payroll Costs
UK Chancellor Orders Whitehall Spending Cuts as Public Debt Exceeds Three Trillion Pounds
UK Manufacturing Output Records Fourth Straight Month of Growth
UK Condemns Russian Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners and Recruitment of Foreign Nationals
Long-Lost Royal Navy Warship HMS Tiger Found in English Channel After 118 Years
Northern Ireland Finance Minister Seeks Urgent Treasury Talks Over Regional Budget Pressures
UK Government Targets Subscription Traps and Misleading Discounts in New Consumer Rules
Alleged Cartel Boss Daniel Kinahan Extradited From Dubai to Face Criminal Charges
AI Chatbots Challenge Traditional News Consumption and Raise Job Concerns
Andy Burnham Government Promises Crackdown on Exploitative Business Practices
UK University Funding Model Faces Growing Pressure From Unsustainable Student Debt
Government Urged to Subsidise Energy Bills for Vulnerable UK Households
UK Military Spending Plans Threaten to Deepen Infrastructure Funding Gap
Israeli Government Rejects US Peace Framework for Gaza
New Labour Government Signals Closer Economic and Strategic Ties With European Union
Amber Heat-Health Alerts Issued Across England as Temperatures Threaten 36 Degrees
UK Economy Expected to Grow Despite Energy and Supply Chain Shock From Iran Conflict
Foreign Social Media Accounts Drove Disinformation During Belfast and Southampton Riots
Record Number of Migrants Cross English Channel in Single Vessel as Smugglers Deploy Mega-Dinghies
Russia’s A7 Builds a State-Linked Payments Network Beyond Western Sanctions
Reports of Mark Zuckerberg-Linked Superyacht Declining Rescue Assistance Draw Maritime Scrutiny
Preserving Three Banksy Artworks in London Has Cost Taxpayers Nearly £150,000
Four Ugandan Athletes Disappear From Delegation After UK Sporting Events
×