At long last, European airports are dumping the 100-milliliter liquids rule
After nearly two decades, Europe's strict limits on liquids in carry‑on baggage are finally being lifted at airports. Two United Kingdom airports, Birmingham Airport (BHX) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI), have already scrapped the previous restrictions, and other airports across the continent are expected to follow suit in short order.
The relaxed guidelines are due to next-generation computed tomography security scanners that offer more reliable scans of liquids inside luggage than current technology at security checkpoints. Passengers traveling out of airports with the new rules will now be able to carry up to 2 liters of wine, olive oil, perfume and other liquids in their carry-on bags.
Another benefit for passengers who encounter these new scanners is that they will no longer have to remove items like laptops and tablets from their carry-ons, which should help expedite the security process.
Change won't happen overnight at all of Europe's airports, however. The rollout of the relaxed new guidelines depends on which aviation hubs have installed the new scanners. It is not mandatory that all airports install the machines, and given their high cost, some airports may choose not to do it. For example, London's Heathrow Airport (LHR), Europe's busiest airport, has not installed the new tech yet. Officials say it will cost more than $1 billion to equip all Heathrow checkpoints with the new scanners.
Airports with the new liquids rules
Here are the airports that have already implemented the new liquids rules:
U.K. airports:
- Birmingham Airport (BHX)
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
EU airports:
- Milan Linate Airport (LIN)
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO)
(Note: New scanners are only in Terminal 1 at Milan Malpensa for now)
The following European airports have the new scanners installed and will be adopting the new liquids rules in the coming months:
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
The good news is that if you're flying out of one of these airports, you'll enjoy greater flexibility and a smoother trip through security. You no longer have to dump fluids or scramble to pour them into tiny bottles. As mentioned earlier, laptops and tablets can also stay in your bag at the screening lanes.
The bad news is that it's not a uniform policy because the relaxed liquids rules may not be implemented across all European airports. For example, travelers who fly out of Birmingham with 2 liters of liquids may run into a problem when returning home if they fly out of, say, France or Spain, where the 100-milliliter rule may still be in place in airports.
Why do these rules exist?
Much like the Transportation Security Administration's 3-1-1 liquids rules for U.S. travelers, Europe's rules on liquids in carry-on luggage can be traced back to a failed terror attack in 2006 that involved liquid explosives. Since then, passengers traveling with liquids, gels or aerosols in carry‑on bags have been limited to containers not exceeding 100 milliliters, with some exceptions made for baby formula and medicines.
Related: TSA liquids rule: Is it next to go after the shoes policy ended?
London City Airport (LCY) was the first major U.K. airport to drop the 100-milliliter rules, but technical problems forced officials to reverse a widespread pullback of the regulations.
Bottom line
The new, more lenient guidelines for traveling with liquids are a major win for traveler convenience in Europe. Even if it is limited at the moment, it is likely that more airports will invest in the new scanners in the near future. Until then, travelers planning a country-hopping visit to Europe should read up on the rules at the airports they plan to fly out of to make sure they are familiar with the rules.
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