Britons forced to wait for 100ml limit rule to be scrapped as deadline for new scanners delayed
Airports have been given an extension to install new scanning technology
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Britons will be forced to comply with old hand luggage rules after airports were given a one-year extension to install new scanning technology.
The initial deadline to deliver the changes in all airports throughout the UK had been set to June 2024, which would have freed passengers from the 100ml liquid in time for summer.
The new scanners can easily detect prohibited items in the hand luggage of passengers, making air travel safer. It does this by giving airport staff a 3D image of the contents of bags, as opposed to the 2D images currently produced by scanners.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP,said: “These cutting-edge scanners will make air travel safer and easier for passengers by strengthening security even further.
Several airports will be forced to lift the liquid ban at a later dateGETTY“The UK is leading the world with its roll-out of this technology, but it’s important we give those airports yet to meet the deadline a second chance to get the job done. Until they do, passengers should continue to check before travelling.”
Airports that fail to install the technology by the new cut-off point could face “serious financial penalties,” British authorities have warned.
London City Airport and Teesside Airport are among those who have already implemented the technology.
It could take up to a year for several major airports, including London Stansted, Manchester and the East Midlands, to complete the installation.
Gatwick, on the other hand, is expecting to complete the changes in the first months of 2025. A spokesperson for the airport told GB News: “London Gatwick will have made significant progress installing state of the art next generation security scanners by June 2024 in both terminals.
“We currently plan to have completed the major logistical operations required to install the remaining scanners in Q1 2025, after the busy summer peak period has concluded.
“The airports' investment in this new technology means once the new scanners are phased in, the security process will be transformed with passengers no longer required to remove electrical items or put liquids in plastic bags.
“The new scanners will also quickly identify potential threats in cabin baggage by providing even better images of luggage with the safety of passengers the airport’s highest priority.”
Others have struggled to install the devices’ weight and size of the technology, with some airports forced to reinforce their floors so they can take the weight of the machinery.
“We recognise that installing the new security equipment at busy airports has been a logistical challenge, with some airports having to undertake significant construction work to allow the new, extremely heavy equipment to be fitted,” The Government said.
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Passengers will have the comply with old rules until the ban is lifted
PA“In some cases, airports have been required to construct entirely new screening halls.”
Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, the trade body for UK airports, Karen Dee, said: “Airports are making excellent progress in delivering these multimillion-pound investment programmes, which will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the aviation security in the years ahead.
“As with any programme of this complexity, there are significant challenges and we are happy the government has recognised these and agreed to extend time frames for delivery where necessary.”
The update comes a month after GB News published a list of the airports that have already implemented the technology.