Roberta Aguirre
The UK government has granted extensions to several large UK airports to install new CT scanners, which will allow passengers to carry more liquids and electronics in their carry-on luggage. The original deadline for the new technology to be installed was December 2022, but supply chain delays and construction difficulties caused by the weight of the machines led to a new deadline of June 2024. This deadline has now been extended by up to a year, with the government considering financial penalties for airports that miss further deadlines. Airports that have already installed the new scanners include London City Airport, Teeside Airport, and Southend Airport. Heathrow, Gatwick, and Birmingham Airport are among those that have been granted extensions. Outside the UK, Oakland International Airport and New York's LaGuardia Airport have also implemented CT scanning technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports with CT scanners installed | London City Airport, Teeside Airport, Southend Airport |
| Airports with CT scanners to be installed by 2025 | London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, East Midlands, London Stansted, Birmingham |
| Benefits of CT scanners | Passengers can keep liquids and electronics in their carry-on bags, improved security, reduced queuing times |
| Drawbacks of CT scanners | Installation requires construction work, slower screening process |
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What You'll Learn
- London Heathrow and Gatwick airports get extensions to install CT scanners
- Birmingham Airport building a new hall to accommodate CT scanners
- London City Airport has introduced CT scanners
- Southend Airport met the June deadline for installing CT scanners
- CT scanners are being rolled out globally, including in the US
London Heathrow and Gatwick airports get extensions to install CT scanners
The UK government set a deadline of June 2024 for all major UK airports to transition to new CT scanning technology. However, several large airports, including London Heathrow and Gatwick, have been granted extensions to install the new security scanners. The new deadline has been extended "for up to a year", with the government considering financial penalties for airports that miss further deadlines.
CT scanning technology offers a more comprehensive and efficient approach to airport security. It enables authorities to detect prohibited items with greater accuracy and speed, improving the overall airport experience for passengers by reducing queuing times while enhancing security. The new scanners will also allow passengers to leave their electronics and liquids in their hand luggage, marking the end of the 100ml liquid restrictions in carry-on luggage.
London City Airport, Birmingham Airport, and Southend Airport are among the airports that have completed the installation of CT scanners. Meanwhile, London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports are still in the process of installing the new scanners. The delays in installation at these airports have been attributed to global supply chain issues and the logistical challenges of accommodating the larger and heavier equipment.
To address these challenges, some airports have had to undertake significant construction work or build new screening halls. For example, Manchester Airport is constructing an additional security hall as part of its Terminal 2 expansion programme, and British Airways recently closed its First Wing security lane at Heathrow to facilitate the installation of the new CT scanners. Despite the extensions, the UK government recognises the importance of these upgrades and is committed to ensuring that UK airports remain at the forefront of aviation security.
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Birmingham Airport building a new hall to accommodate CT scanners
Birmingham Airport is undergoing a £40 million project to build a new security hall to accommodate CT scanners. The airport is installing Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray scanners as part of a £20 million security screening upgrade. The new scanners will enable passengers to leave liquids and electronics in their hand baggage, improving the efficiency of security screening while maintaining safety standards.
The new security hall is scheduled to be completed by June 2024, in line with the UK regulation that requires the adoption of CT passenger checkpoints at airports by this deadline. The original deadline of June 2024 has been extended for up to a year, with the government considering financial penalties for airports that miss further deadlines.
Birmingham Airport's security upgrade will include new security checkpoints featuring Smiths Detection's HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, a CT X-ray scanner that produces high-resolution volumetric 3D images for quicker and more thorough baggage assessments, reducing false-alarm rates. The implementation of these scanners will allow passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage, eliminating the need to remove electronics and liquids from their bags.
In addition to the new security hall, Birmingham Airport is also undergoing other construction projects, including fitting a new roof over the north side of the terminal to allow more natural light and installing solar panels to power the new security scanners. Furthermore, four new 50-person lifts are being installed at the front of the terminal to replace the existing escalators, freeing up space on both floors. These changes are part of a broader effort to enhance the airport's security measures and improve the overall passenger experience.
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London City Airport has introduced CT scanners
The airport has invested in replacing its conventional X-ray machines with state-of-the-art CT scanners provided by Leidos. This £12 million upgrade includes improvements to the departure lounge, making the journey through the airport smoother and more efficient. London City Airport expects to process up to 30% more passengers per hour with the new scanners.
The introduction of CT scanners at London City Airport is part of a wider initiative to enhance aviation security. In December 2022, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a "major shake-up of airport security rules", setting a deadline of June 2024 for airports to install new security technology. This technology will bring an end to the longstanding 100ml liquid restriction in hand luggage, improving the overall airport experience for travellers.
While London City Airport has taken steps to implement this new technology, some UK airports have faced challenges in meeting the June 2024 deadline. The DfT has granted extensions of up to a year on a case-by-case basis, recognising the logistical difficulties in installing the heavy and complex equipment. Airports that miss further deadlines may face financial penalties.
London City Airport's decision to introduce CT scanners ahead of the deadline gives it a competitive advantage over other airports. By being one of the first mainstream UK airports to offer a fully CT-secured experience, it has improved the efficiency and convenience of security checks for its passengers. This move aligns with the airport's commitment to continuously enhance the LCY experience and ensure a smoother journey for travellers.
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Southend Airport met the June deadline for installing CT scanners
In December 2022, the Department for Transport announced a "major shake-up of airport security rules" with a deadline of June 2024 for airports to install new CT scanners. This technology would allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their hand luggage during the security screening process.
Southend Airport was one of the few airports to meet this deadline, along with London City, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, and Teesside. However, despite having the new scanners in place, these airports were still required to reintroduce the 100ml liquid restriction in June 2024 due to a DfT ruling.
The installation of CT scanners is a significant undertaking, requiring substantial investment, construction work, and staff training. Airports that missed the June 2024 deadline were granted extensions of up to a year, with the government considering financial penalties for further delays.
As of April 2025, nine UK airports are now equipped with CT scanners: Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Luton, Newcastle, Southend, and Teesside. London Gatwick is the latest airport to change its liquid rules due to upgraded scanners, but rules around liquids in hand luggage still vary across UK airports.
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CT scanners are being rolled out globally, including in the US
CT scanners are being rolled out at airports worldwide, including in the US and across Europe. These scanners use computed tomography (CT) to produce clearer images and strengthen security. The new technology will allow passengers to carry larger volumes of liquids (up to 2 litres) in their hand luggage and keep their laptops and tablets inside their bags during security screening, improving the overall airport experience by reducing queuing times.
While the UK set a deadline of June 2024 for the installation of these scanners at its airports, this deadline has been extended for up to a year due to logistical challenges. Some UK airports, such as London City Airport, Teeside Airport, and Southend Airport, have already successfully introduced the new scanners. However, larger airports like Heathrow and Gatwick are among those that have been granted extensions. Heathrow expects to have new scanners in all security lanes by summer 2024, while Gatwick aims for a March 2025 completion. Manchester Airports Group, which operates Manchester, East Midlands, and London Stansted airports, plans to fully roll out the scanners in 2025.
In the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has replaced old screening lanes with CT X-ray systems at over 200 security checkpoints nationwide. Airports with these new scanners include Oakland International Airport (OAK), Atlanta Airport, and New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). While the implementation of CT scanners has led to longer lines and wait times, it is expected that these issues will ease as both TSA officers and travellers adapt to the new technology and processes.
As CT scanners continue to be adopted globally, it is anticipated that they will enhance security, improve the passenger experience, and ultimately make air travel safer and more efficient for all.
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Frequently asked questions
London City Airport, Teeside Airport, Southend Airport, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport, Birmingham Airport, Manchester Airport, East Midlands Airport, and London Stansted Airport.
The new CT scanners use computed tomography to produce clearer images of carry-on luggage. This will allow passengers to carry up to 2 litres of liquids in their hand luggage, instead of the previous 100ml limit. It will also mean that laptops and tablets won't need to be removed from bags.
The original deadline for UK airports to install the new CT scanners was December 2022, but this was extended to June 2024 due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Some airports have been granted further extensions of up to a year due to supply chain delays and construction difficulties caused by the weight of the machines.
