The rules limiting the amount of liquids allowed on planes and requiring electronics to be taken out of hand baggage in security are to change.
The federal government has set a deadline of June 2024 for main UK airports to set up new security know-how, which can make out of date the rule to carry not more than 100ml of liquid in a container and take away giant electronics, reminiscent of laptops and tablets, from hand baggage earlier than continuing via scanners.
New rules being put in place by the Division for Transport removes elements of EU legislation governing how new know-how and processes can be carried out, permitting new know-how to be put in, a spokesperson stated.
The division stated main airports, reminiscent of Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham will be topic to the deadline.
Present rules will stay in place till then.
Since a terrorist risk in 2006, liquids have been restricted in quantity to 100ml and should be proven in a transparent plastic bag. The rule is aimed toward stopping liquid explosives being carried on to planes.
However this may not be a requirement and passengers might carry up to 2 litres of liquid via security.
Most main airports are to roll out the know-how over the course of the subsequent 12 months, Transport Secretary Mark Harper stated.
“By 2024, main airports throughout the UK can have the most recent security tech put in, decreasing queuing occasions, bettering the passenger expertise, and most significantly detecting potential threats,” he added.
The division warned clients to examine the return rules for carrying liquids at any airport which they could journey or switch via.
“Many locations might not have carried out this new know-how,” it stated.
Trials of new 3D security scanners had been carried out at some airports.
These trials demonstrated the effectiveness of the screening tools, the division stated.
The brand new scanners makes use of CT X-ray know-how to present a 3D picture of the contents of passengers’ baggage and deploy “extremely superior risk detection algorithms”, it added.
They’re already utilized in airports reminiscent of Schiphol in Amsterdam.
Responding to the announcement, the Airport Operators Affiliation (AOA) stated: “This funding in subsequent era security by the UK’s airport operators will present an awesome step ahead for UK air journey, matching the most effective in school around the globe.”
“It can make the journey via the UK’s airports simpler and air journey itself extra nice,” stated AOA’s coverage director, Christopher Snelling.
The funds of airports have been hit by COVID-19 associated lockdowns, with passenger numbers yet to return to pre-pandemic ranges at airports reminiscent of Heathrow.