UK airports to ease liquid, laptop security rules

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - The UK will ease airport security rules to allow passengers to carry liquids and laptops in their hand luggage, the government announced on Thursday.

The rules are set to change gradually over the next two years as large airports across the country are to install new technology at the security checkpoints.

The government said that this move will not only mean greater convenience for travelers, but will also enhance passenger safety, as security staff will have more detailed images of what people are carrying.

“By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats,” Transport Secretary Mark Harper said in a statement.

He said that the change will not happen straight away as it is “going to take 2 years to be fully implemented,” but until then, “passengers must continue following the existing rules and check before travelling.”

Under the current rules, passengers are required to remove liquids, tablets, and laptops from their cabin baggage.

Liquids are limited to 100ml and must be in a clear plastic bag, but this will also be lifted.

Christopher Snelling, policy director at the Airport Operators Association (AOA), said: “This investment in next-generation security by the UK’s airport operators will provide a great step forward for UK air travel, matching the best in class around the world.”

According to Snelling, the new CT X-ray technology will provide a 3D image of what is in passengers’ bags, as well as deploy highly advanced threat detection algorithms.

Many other countries are now using similar technology and are abandoning harsh airport measures introduced in 2006 following a terrorist threat.