LAST UPDATE | 4 Apr 2023

LONDON CITY HAS become the first major airport in the UK to allow all passengers to pass through security without removing laptops and liquids from hand luggage.

The airport has installed new CT scanners which generate more detailed images of what is inside bags.

Departing passengers no longer have to restrict toiletries and liquids to 100ml bottles in clear plastic bags, and can leave laptops, tablets and mobile phones in their hand luggage during security screening.

The UK Government is requiring all major airports to use the technology by June 2024.

London City is the UK’s second airport to use the scanners in all its security lanes after Teesside – which has only a handful of flights each day – introduced them last month.

Airport security rules over liquids were implemented in 2006 following a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the US with homemade liquid bombs.

Travellers failing to adhere to them is one of the biggest causes of delays at airport security.

Alison FitzGerald, London City’s chief operating officer, said: “We have always prided ourselves on embracing innovation and being early adopters of new technology.

“The new CT scanners will take our passenger experience to another level, reducing the stress and hassle of 100ml liquids in clear plastic bags and having to unload your hand luggage.

“The new process delivers a much more efficient security operation with enhanced security screening.

“We are really confident that this investment will make the experience of travelling through London City even better for the business and leisure passengers using the airport, to quickly and easily get to our many domestic and international destinations.”

The UK’s aviation minister Charlotte Vere said: “We’re making sure that all major airports across the UK introduce a new generation of sophisticated security technology, and it’s great to see this being harnessed at London City Airport already.

“This will reduce queueing times, improve the passenger experience, and most importantly detect potential threats.”

Heathrow – the UK’s busiest airport – said it is investing a significant amount of money into installing the new machines but has not announced a date for when the process will be completed.

It added this will take longer than some other airports as it has more security lanes.

Gatwick said it is trialling the new technology in one security lane and is committed to meeting the June 2024 deadline.

Passengers are advised to expect to face the usual baggage rules.

Irish plans

In a statement to The Journal, a daa spokesperson said EU-wide aviation security regulations in relation to the 100ml limit for liquids, lotions, gels and pastes will continue to be implemented at Dublin and Cork airports.

However, daa is currently trialling new enhanced x-ray technology at Dublin Airport, which passengers may have noticed if they travelled through the airport since last Christmas.

However, the daa spokesperson said this is a “complex process” as Dublin Airport has over 30 x-ray machines across two terminals.

The spokesperson added that the project “involves the purchase of the new state-of-the-art equipment, as well as the completion of significant civil works within the terminal building”.

When installed, this new technology at Dublin Airport will end the need to remove laptops and liquids from cabin baggage.