passengers face 100ml liquids and equipment issues

Ministers have ordered a dramatic emergency change to airport security following concerns about new equipment that allows passengers to keep liquids in their hand luggage.

Airports with the new scanners have been ordered to re-impose the old rules from midnight on Saturday, meaning travelers will be limited to carrying 100ml containers for liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs).

The Independent understands a number of concerns have been raised about the new equipment, which is also in use at overseas airports such as Schiphol in Amsterdam and Shannon in Ireland.

Although security has never been compromised, a number of airports using the new scanners have experienced long queues due to a higher-than-expected rejection rate, with security officers forced to carry out manual searches of carry-on bags. The sources said The Independent that harmless liquids such as sunscreens have been misidentified as high-threat substances.

The government told airports with “next-generation security checkpoints” – which were supposed to end the problem of disposing of toiletries in clear plastic bags for separate screening – to revert to the old rules on liquids, aerosols and gels. Electronics such as laptops are not affected.

“This temporary move is to allow further improvements to the new checkpoint systems and will only affect a small number of passengers,” the Department for Transport (DfT) said in a surprise statement on Friday evening. “For the majority of passengers, security measures will remain unchanged.”

It says only passengers traveling from London City, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Aberdeen, Southend and Teesside airports will be affected.

A DfT spokesman said: “From 0001, Sunday 9 June 2024, the 100ml restrictions on liquids will be temporarily reintroduced for passengers traveling from six regional airports where Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC ) are in full operation”.

The introduction of new equipment was already long overdue. A target of 2022 was set to have scanners in all airports by this month, but officials admitted earlier this year that the deadline would not be met. None of the UK’s six biggest airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Luton or Edinburgh – is fully compliant.

The restrictions were introduced in 2006 following a “liquid bomb plot” on a transatlantic flight.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper told BBC Breakfast: “We have reintroduced this rule while updates are being made, changes are being made to airport scanning equipment to ensure we can continue to provide our aviation security levels of top worldwide.

“It is a temporary measure and we will determine when this can be reversed in due course.”

The last-minute move comes days after Birmingham Airport reinstated the old 100ml limit, blaming a regulatory hurdle. However, the airport says passengers do not need to carry liquids in a separate bag. Long queues for security have sometimes formed at the West Midlands centre.

Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said: “Since opening our new security area, and despite being one of the first airports in the UK to comply, we have been restricted in the use of our security equipment. several million pounds due to an exceptional regulatory restriction which meant we had to limit liquids to 100ml. This rule has now been implemented nationwide.

“Although the 100ml rule is still in place, we constantly have non-compliant bags with liquids over the allowance, which has made our equipment inefficient and resulted in extended waiting times for customers.

“It is now imperative that all customers comply with the rule at national level to ensure a smoother and simpler transition through the airport. A non-compliant bag with liquids over 100ml can add up to 20 minutes to each passenger’s journey through security..”

It is believed that the six airports fully equipped with new scanners will allow passengers to leave liquids (under 100ml) and laptops in their hand luggage, rather than being taken out and put in a separate tray. This is also the policy at Birmingham Airport.