No Need to Remove Liquids or Laptops at UK Airports in 2024

UK Department of Transport Orders Introduction of Latest 3D Security Scanners
Expected Reduction in Waiting Time and Use of Plastic Bags at Security Checkpoints

Major airports in the UK plan to replace their baggage screening equipment with 3D CT security scanners by the summer of 2024. The photo shows the screening area at Incheon Airport Terminal 2.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] By mid-2024, it is expected that at UK airports, passengers will no longer need to place liquids in plastic bags or remove laptops from their luggage.

The Times reported that the liquid allowance restriction at security checkpoints in UK airports will be abolished in 2024. This is because the UK Department for Transport (DfT) has instructed major UK airports to replace the currently used baggage inspection equipment with high-spec computed tomography (CT) security scanners similar to those used in hospitals by summer 2024. The latest equipment can inspect luggage in three dimensions (3D), so passengers will no longer have to take items out of their carry-on bags one by one. Currently, Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport in the UK are trialing 3D inspection equipment.

The baggage scanners currently used at airport security checkpoints produce two-dimensional (2D) images, making it difficult to accurately identify contents until visually inspected. However, with the introduction of high-performance scanners, luggage can be thoroughly examined without opening bags, which is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and the use of plastic bags. In particular, there are many cases where passengers forget to take out items that must be removed beforehand and only do so after being asked by staff, causing delays in security checks. At Shannon Airport in Ireland, which introduced new technology inspection equipment this year, the time passengers spend passing through security has been cut in half compared to before, and the 100mL liquid restriction rule has also been abolished.

The restriction on carrying liquids on flights began in the UK in 2006. At that time, eight Muslim men attempted to simultaneously detonate liquid explosives disguised as soft drinks on seven planes departing from London Heathrow Airport to the United States over the Atlantic Ocean but were arrested before succeeding. Immediately after the incident, almost all carry-on luggage except passports and wallets was banned in the UK. Subsequently, the liquid allowance was limited to 100mL or less and had to be placed in a transparent plastic bag measuring 20cm x 20cm, a regulation that has lasted for 16 years. In South Korea, restrictions on carrying liquids and gels on international flights have been in place since March 2007, and devices with batteries such as laptops, tablets, and cameras must be taken out separately.

In the UK, a plan to introduce new airport security inspection equipment was announced in 2019 during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tenure, but its implementation was delayed due to a sharp decline in air passengers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. UK authorities are expected to make an official announcement regarding this matter within the next few weeks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.