Jazmin Li
Airports have been given extensions to install new security scanners that will end the 100ml liquid restriction and improve security. The original deadline was June 2024, but this has been extended for up to a year on a case-by-case basis. Some airports, such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted, have struggled to meet the deadline due to supply chain issues, the cost of new scanners, and the need for construction work to accommodate the new equipment. Other airports, including London City, Southend, Leeds Bradford, Teesside, Newcastle, Aberdeen, and Birmingham, have installed the new scanners and allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their cabin luggage. The new scanners use advanced technology, such as computed tomography (CT) and 3D imaging, to detect prohibited items more accurately and efficiently, improving the travel experience for passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports with new scanners installed by June 2024 | London City, Southend, Leeds Bradford, Teesside, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Birmingham |
| Airports that missed the June 2024 deadline | Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh, Liverpool |
| Airports with new scanners installed by 2025 | Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester |
| Airports with no information | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Airports that have installed new scanners
Several airports have installed new scanners, which detect prohibited items with greater accuracy and make air travel safer and easier for passengers. However, some airports have struggled to meet the deadline for installing these new scanners, leading to a delay in lifting liquid restrictions.
As of March 2025, Gatwick, Birmingham, and Newcastle airports have installed CT scanners, allowing passengers to keep liquids and electrical items in their cabin luggage. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted airports, on the other hand, missed the initial deadline. Regional airports that met the deadline, such as London City, Southend, Leeds Bradford, Teesside, and Aberdeen, were forced to reintroduce the 100ml liquid limit due to the delay at major airports.
Some smaller airports have faced challenges in meeting the multimillion-pound cost of the new scanners. Additionally, airports have had to undertake construction work to accommodate the weight and size of the new equipment. For example, Birmingham Airport is building a new security screening hall, and Heathrow is spending about £1 billion on upgrading 146 security lanes across four terminals.
While the new scanners are expected to enhance security and improve the passenger experience, the delay in their rollout has caused confusion and potential delays for travellers, as different airports may have varying rules regarding liquid restrictions. Liverpool Airport and Edinburgh Airport are among those working towards installing the new scanners, with Edinburgh aiming to have a number of them in place by June 2024.
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Airports that have missed the deadline
Several airports have missed the deadline to install new scanners, which was initially set for June 2024. These include major UK airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted. The deadline was extended for up to a year on a case-by-case basis due to the challenges faced by airports in installing the new security equipment.
Gatwick Airport, for example, is expected to have made significant progress by June 2024 but will not complete the installation until spring 2025. Manchester Airport, owned by MAG, along with Stansted and East Midlands airports, will also introduce the scanners "lane by lane." Birmingham Airport is constructing a new security screening hall to accommodate the new scanners.
Edinburgh Airport is also working on installing the new scanners but will not meet the initial deadline, aiming to have a number of them in place by June 2024 and the remaining scanners installed by late 2024. Liverpool Airport did not comment on whether it would meet the deadline, while other regional airports that met the deadline, such as London City, Leeds Bradford, and Newcastle, had to reintroduce the 100ml liquid limit after the Department for Transport's announcement.
The new scanners are expected to enhance security and improve the passenger experience by detecting prohibited items more accurately and allowing liquids and electronics to remain in carry-on bags. However, the delay in installing the scanners at some airports has caused confusion and potential delays for travellers, as different airports may have varying rules regarding liquid restrictions.
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Confusion and delays for passengers
The UK government has been working on installing new security scanners at airports, which will strengthen security and enhance the passenger experience. The new scanners will detect prohibited items with greater accuracy, meaning security staff can work more efficiently. Passengers will also benefit from the new scanners as they will no longer need to remove liquids and electronics from their carry-on bags.
However, there have been concerns about potential confusion and delays for passengers due to missed deadlines for installing the new scanners. The original deadline for airports to install the new scanners was set for June 1, 2024, but some major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester, are expected to miss this deadline. This has raised worries among airports and consumer groups that the implementation of the new scanners could lead to delays as passengers adjust to the new technology.
The delayed rollout of the new scanners could result in different rules and restrictions across airports, causing confusion for travellers. Passengers may arrive at the airport with items that are not allowed, leading to hold-ups at security checkpoints. Travel experts have advised travellers to check the security requirements for liquids and electronic items at their departure airport before travelling to avoid any issues.
Some airports, such as Teesside and London City Airport, have already finished installing the new scanners, while others are still in the process of rolling them out. Gatwick, for example, expects to make significant progress by June but does not anticipate completing the installation until early next year, after the busy summer period. The government has granted extensions to the deadline, recognizing the challenges faced by airports in upgrading their security checkpoints, including construction work and supply chain issues.
While the new scanners are expected to improve security and the passenger experience, the transition period may cause temporary confusion and delays for travellers, especially during the busy summer holiday season. Passengers are advised to stay updated with the latest security requirements at their departure airports to ensure a smooth journey.
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Airports granted extensions
The UK government has granted extensions to airports that need more time to install new security scanners. The original deadline of June 1, 2024, has been extended for up to a year on a case-by-case basis. This decision comes after it became apparent that several airports would not meet the initial deadline due to logistical challenges and the financial burden of installing the new equipment. The new scanners are heavy and have required some airports to undertake significant construction work, including building entirely new screening halls.
The extension will ensure simplicity and ease for customers during the transition to the new security technology. The government is also considering introducing financial penalties for airports that miss the extended deadlines. The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that the new technology will enhance security and improve the passenger experience.
Several UK airports have faced challenges in installing the new scanners. Heathrow, for example, is spending about £1 billion on upgrading a total of 146 security lanes across four terminals. Gatwick Airport also missed the initial deadline and expected to have the new scanners installed by spring 2025. Manchester, Stansted, and East Midlands airports, owned by MAG, are introducing the scanners "lane by lane". Birmingham Airport is constructing a new security screening hall to accommodate the new equipment.
The new security scanners will bring several benefits. They will detect prohibited items with greater accuracy, making air travel safer and easier for passengers. The scanners will also speed up security screening as passengers will no longer need to remove liquids and electronics from their hand luggage. While the original deadline of June 1, 2024, has passed, airports are making progress in delivering these multimillion-pound investment programmes.
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Airports that have reinstated the 100ml limit
The UK government announced in June 2024 that airports must reintroduce the 100ml liquid limit for hand luggage. This was due to a "temporary technical issue" with the new generation of scanners, which were not accurately identifying some liquid containers.
Several UK airports had already installed the new scanners and had to revert to the 100ml limit, including Bristol, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted were among the airports that had not yet installed the new scanners and were also subject to the reinstated liquid restrictions.
The European Commission also announced that EU airports would need to reinstate the 100ml liquid limit, affecting countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The transport secretary has insisted that the re-imposition of the 100ml limit is temporary, but no end date has been provided, causing uncertainty for airports and passengers alike.
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Frequently asked questions
As of March 2025, Gatwick, Birmingham and Newcastle airports have the new scanners installed in all security lanes. Other airports such as Heathrow, Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands have also started introducing the new scanners but have not completed the programme yet.
The new scanners use advanced x-ray technology to create layered 3D images that security staff can tilt and rotate to better identify the contents of cabin baggage. This means that liquids and electronics can be left in carry-on bags and do not need to be removed.
The original deadline for the introduction of the new scanners was June 2024, but this was extended for up to a year due to logistical challenges and the weight, size, cost and training requirements for the new equipment.
No, not all UK airports have the new scanners yet. Some airports have been granted extensions to install the new scanners, while others have had to reintroduce the 100ml liquid limit after issues with the new scanners.
