A major change has happened at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom that makes travel easier for passengers. Heathrow has ended the long‑standing rule that limited liquids in hand luggage to 100 milliliters. This means people flying from the airport do not have to put small bottles of water, shampoo, or lotion in tiny clear plastic bags when they go through security. People can now carry liquid bottles up to two liters in their bags when flying from Heathrow Airport.
This new change was made possible by new CT security scanners that use advanced technology to scan hand luggage. These scanners create detailed 3D pictures of what is inside bags. Because the images are very clear, security officers can now see inside liquids and electronics without inspecting bags physically.
The new technology has already been used at all security lanes across Heathrow’s terminals, making it one of the first large airports in the world to use these advance scanners for security checks. The airport officials says it spent about £1 billion to make security checks faster and easier.
Before this change, travelers had to take out liquids and laptops and put them in separate trays at the security checkpoint. This long‑standing rule was first introduced in the UK in 2006 after a terror plan was stopped. That rule has caused a lot of frustration and long lines at the airport for many years.
Now, with the new scanners, passengers do not have to take liquids or electronic devices out of their bags. This means people spend less time for security checks and more time relaxing or getting to their flight. Heathrow officials say the scanners still keep safety strong while removing extra steps.
Because of this change, passengers can carry larger liquid containers, such as big bottles of water or travel sizes that were not allowed before. They can also keep laptops, tablets, and other large electronics inside their hand luggage instead of taking them out.
Other UK airports have also started using similar scanner technology. Airports in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, and London Gatwick are in the process of using the new CT machines, and passengers there may also spend less time at security checks.
Not all airports in the UK have removed the 100 ml liquid rule. Some airports still use the old rule. Passengers traveling through different airports should check the rules at each airport, because some may still limit liquids to 100 milliliters.
The removal of the 100 ml liquids limit is expected to reduce the use of millions of small plastic bags every year, which also reduces waste and makes travel more environmentally friendly.
Travelers who have flown through Heathrow recently say the new process feels easier and more efficient than before. Many people feel easy and comfortable because they don’t have to worry about their bottles being too big, and they appreciate being able to keep their laptops and other items in their bags.
This change may also influence other airports around the world to adopt the latest scanning machines. Some major airports in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe are also trying to use similar technology. If more airports use these advanced scanners, it could make travel easier around the worldwide.
Passengers are hopeful that these improvements will make air travel easier, faster, and less stressful for everyone in future.