The UK has begun easing its long-standing liquid restrictions, thanks to the rollout of advanced CT scanners at major airports. Under the new rules, travelers can now leave liquids and electronics in their carry-on luggage eliminating the need to remove them during security checks. While the traditional 100ml limit still applies for now, it’s only a matter of time before larger volumes are allowed. This major development marks a new phase in the ongoing relaxation of UK liquid restrictions.
✈️ How the New CT Scanners Work
CT (Computed Tomography) scanners generate 3D x-ray images of your bag’s contents. This helps security staff detect potential threats more accurately without requiring passengers to unpack laptops or bottles. Most airports equipped with these scanners no longer require you to remove liquids or electronics from your carry-on.
📅 UK Liquid Restrictions -Implementation Timeline and Policy
Initially planned for full implementation by June 2024, many UK airports faced delays in meeting the deadline. As a result, the UK government extended the rollout deadline to June 2025. Several airports have now completed installation, marking a major step toward fully relaxing UK liquid restrictions.
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🛫 Airport Roll-Out Status
Here’s the current CT scanner deployment status across major UK airports:
| Airport | CT Scanners Installed | Leave Liquids In Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | ✅ | ✅ |
| Birmingham | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bristol | ✅ | ✅ |
| Edinburgh | ✅ | ✅ |
| Gatwick (London) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Leeds Bradford | ✅ | ✅ |
| Luton | ✅ | ✅ |
| Newcastle | ✅ | ✅ |
| Southend | ✅ | ✅ |
| Teesside | ✅ | ✅ |
| Heathrow | Partial / In Progress | ❌ until full rollout |
| Manchester | Partial / In Progress | ❌ until full rollout |
| Stansted | Partial / In Progress | ❌ until full rollout |
😊 What This Means for Travelers
Although you can now keep liquids in your hand luggage at many airports, the 100ml rule still applies. The full removal of this limit is expected in the future, once all scanners are deployed and verified. Until then, UK liquid restrictions remain in partial effect, varying from one airport to another.
⚠️ Potential Delays & Remaining Issues
Not all airports are ready. Larger airports like Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted are still in progress. Additionally, some passengers have reported longer queues due to scanners misidentifying common items, highlighting the need for consistent policy application alongside the new tech.
