Heathrow Airport could drop 100ml liquid hand luggage limit by the summer

Passengers travelling through Heathrow Airport will soon be able to carry liquids of more than 100ml in their hand luggage as part of a rollout of new security scanners.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it wants the new security measures to be implemented by June 1.

Airports had aimed to implement the new technology by 2022, but the deadline was pushed back to this year.

Heathrow Airport currently has the technology in place at Terminals 2, 3 and 5 but aims to complete the rollout by the summer.

The airport said it has 146 security lanes in total, more than all UK airports combined, making the installation more complex than at its rivals.

The ban on liquids of over 100ml was first introduced in 2006 following a foiled terrorist attack.

A DfT spokesperson said: “We are in regular contact with airports as they move towards the June 2024 deadline for upgrading their screening equipment and processes.”

The scanners were tested in 2018 and are already in use at London City Airport and Teesside Airport. The update means travellers will be able to carry up to two litres of liquid and toiletries.

The government has warned that at smaller airports, the arrangements may not permit liquids and large electronics to remain in cabin baggage.

The DfT said it may consider allowing airports to have slightly longer to put the new process in place across their entire concourse or terminal to ensure that the new screening arrangements operate effectively.

A spokesperson for Heathrow airport said: “Our teams are focussed on delivering the programme as quickly as practically possible.

“We are working alongside the government on timelines and investing a huge amount of energy and £1 billion into taking out the current security lanes while ensuring we keep the operation flowing and our passengers have a smooth security experience at Heathrow during the transition.”

The airport has asked passengers to continue to prepare for security as normal unless explicitly told otherwise.