Long-standing UK airport departure lounge rule scrapped ‘at short notice’

UK tourists and airline passengers have been warned of a change to departure lounge rules “at short notice”. The government has caused chaos with the introduction of new scanners at security, meaning tourists do not have to comply with a 100ml limit.

But some airports were not ready to roll out the new technology on June 1, which will affect tourists. Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: “These latest changes announced on Friday, instigated at very little notice, have created uncertainty for passengers just as airports enter their busiest times of the year.

“It has also put airport operators in a difficult position with very limited time to train the additional staff and wider resources this will require and no clear idea of ​​when this issue will be resolved.”

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The Department for Transport then responded in a statement, saying: “The temporary reintroduction of the 100ml liquid restriction at some airports is to allow time for further improvements to systems. It only affects those traveling from six regional airports where Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) were already in full operation around 6% of all UK air passengers.

“For most passengers, security measures will remain unchanged from those in place since 2006.” They advised: “Passengers should continue to check security requirements with their departure airport before travelling.”

Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester missed the June 1 deadline. But other airports – such as London City, Teesside, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Aberdeen and Southend – have managed to meet the government’s mandate.

In Birmingham, footage showed long queues at the airport as tourists heading off on a summer holiday were hit by chaos and disruption to travel and flights. The DfT explained: “This temporary move is to allow further improvements to the new checkpoint systems and will only affect a small number of passengers.”