East Midlands Airport is being updated on when the 100ml liquid rule will be lifted

Airports up and down the country are racing to update their security in line with the new rules. In December 2022, the government announced that all security scanners nationwide would be updated by early next month.

This would allow passengers to take up to two liters of liquids on board planes in hand luggage. They also won’t have to unpack their laptops and other electronic devices from their bags.

Some airports are on track to meet this deadline, including Birmingham Airport, which is expected to be the first major English airport to ditch the 100ml rule, and Inverness Airport in Scotland. However, at others, including Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports, the changes are unlikely to be implemented before next year.

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LeicestershireLive asked East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington when their passengers can expect the new rules to come into play. An airport spokesman said work was underway to expand the size of the terminal to accommodate the new security scanners. The extension was approved last August and will also see minor changes to the building’s exterior and EMA’s short-term car park.

However, the work will not be completed in time for people to fly out on their summer holidays, meaning the old rules will still apply this summer. East Midlands Airport does not anticipate the scanners will be operational this year.

The spokesman said: “We are working on-going here to expand the size of our terminal to accommodate the new security scanning equipment. That means we are working to get the new equipment and new rules up and running next year.

“In the meantime, we are telling customers that they should come to the airport as normal as their journey through the airport will not be affected by the ongoing works and existing security arrangements remain in place.”

Until the EMA confirms that the scanners are complete, passengers can only take liquids under 100ml in hand luggage. They must be in a resealable plastic bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm and cannot exceed one litre.