Airports in EU can now ditch 100ml liquids rule for hand luggage

Packing your hand luggage with miniature bottles of shampoo and toothpaste could soon finally be a thing of the past, after the European Commission confirmed that new security screening equipment had been approved for use in airports in the bloc, enabling passengers to bring bottles larger than 100 millilitres on board. However, the change won’t be rolled out everywhere immediately. 

EU greenlights new CT security scanners for airports

The EC confirmed to Euronews that it had approved the use of new explosive detection systems in airport security that are capable of scanning the contents of large liquid containers, meaning that passengers would soon be able to bring liquids in containers of up to two litres on board in their hand luggage. The change was first reported by Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. 

Various airports have been installing the new CT scanner detection systems - and were preparing to scrap the 100ml liquid rule last year - but in the summer of 2024, the European Commission imposed a temporary pause on the systems, citing technical issues. This saw the liquid rule kept in place temporarily. 

Under existing rules, hand luggage liquids - including liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes - must be in containers no larger than 100ml each, presented in a sealable plastic bag. There are some exceptions for baby products and medications. 

Berlin Airport, among others, can ditch 100ml liquid rule

Now, however, the European Commission, working together with the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), has successfully tested a solution to the technical issue and has given the screening equipment the green light. 

This means that airports where the advanced scanners have already been installed - such as Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam and Milan - can start to use them once again, and therefore scrap their hand luggage liquid restrictions. An EC spokesperson told Euronews that they expected this to happen “in the coming days”. 

Passengers advised to check hand luggage liquid rules before travelling

However, not all EU airports have the advanced scanners, which are significantly more expensive than traditional screening systems, and the EU is not making it a mandatory requirement for airports to install the new technology; instead, it will be up to individual airports to decide.

This means that travellers will likely be faced with a confusing patchwork of rules, for instance, departing from an airport that has the scanners, but returning home via an airport that doesn’t. This would mean that liquids above 100ml would only be allowed in hand luggage on the departing flight, but not on the return journey. 

Passengers are being advised to check the rules in place at both their departure and return airports before travelling, to ensure they don’t run foul of confusion.