Eight UK airports have changed the 100ml liquids rule at security: full list of British transport hubs that don’t have strict liquid limits

The relaxing of security rules at major UK airports have been promised for a long, long time. Brand new CT scanners that would mark the end of the 100ml liquid limit and the clear plastic bag rule were announced way back in 2018. But it’s taken seven years for that new tech to be widely installed.

The strict liquid rules at airports were first introduced in 2006 following a foiled transatlantic bomb plot. Since then, airport’s have also required passengers to remove large electrical items like tablets or laptops from their hand luggage for checking. Those days are finally over. 

Now, the new machines have been installed at most of the UK’s major airports. They can take a 3D picture of a bag’s insides, meaning that passengers no longer need to faff around at security decanting their liquids into a plastic pouch, digging their laptop out of their bag or chugging down their bottles of water. The idea is that getting rid of those rules will speed up the whole security process. 

Days after London Heathrow became the latest airport to axe the old security restrictions, here’s the full rundown of the airports where passengers no longer need to worry about the 100ml liquid limit. 

What are the new hand luggage rules? 

The new CT scanners mean that passengers can now pack containers with up to two litres of liquid in their hand luggage (as many as you like) and keep them inside their bag. Laptops and tablets can stay inside your hand luggage too. Refillable metal or ‘double walled’ or vacuum containers still need to be emptied, but they can be refilled at free water stations once you’re through security.

However, a key thing to remember is that your destination airport may not have the tech in place yet, so you still may need to get a clear plastic bag and keep liquids below 100ml when you travel back to the UK.

Which UK airports have scrapped the 100ml liquid rule? 

The full new security rules are now in place at: 

• Belfast International
• Belfast City 
• Birmingham
• Bournemouth
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• London Gatwick 
• London Heathrow 

Which UK still have the 100ml liquid rule? 

These hubs still require passengers to keep liquids to 100ml, but most no longer need you to have them in a separate transparent bag. That means you can keep them inside your hand luggage at security. You also no longer need to take your electronics out at most airports either. 

• Aberdeen
• Bournemouth
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Glasgow International
• Glasgow Prestwick (must be in a clear resealable bag)
• Inverness (must be in a clear resealable bag)
• Isle of Man (must be in a clear resealable bag)
• Leeds Bradford 
• Liverpool
• London Stansted
• Luton
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Newquay
• Norwich (must be in a clear resealable bag)
• Southampton
• Southend
• Stansted
• Teesside

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