September 1st 2024.
Starting today, travelers who were hoping for a spontaneous summer vacation may face some disappointment. Several EU airports have reintroduced strict cabin rules, meaning that the 100ml liquids rule, which had previously been lifted at some airports, is now back in effect.
This change follows a similar decision made by the UK Department of Transport in June of this year. This means that for many people who are packing for a trip, they will once again have to limit their toiletries to small sizes such as perfumes, suncream, and shampoo.
But what exactly prompted these new measures? And what were the original rules regarding liquids in European airports? Well, in some EU airports such as Amsterdam and Rome, new scanning machines using CT X-ray technology were implemented. These machines allow passengers to carry liquids over 100ml and keep other items in their bags, rather than having to take them out and place them in trays. Currently, there are about 350 of these scanners in use in countries like Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden. However, other airports are still in the process of testing this new technology and have not yet installed it.
So why the sudden change? It turns out that the EU had to reinstall the 100ml limit due to technical issues with the new equipment. In a statement on the European Commission website, they clarified that this measure is not in response to any new threats, but rather is a precautionary measure to address a temporary technical issue. The Commission is working closely with member states and the European Civil Aviation Conference to find a quick solution that ensures the highest standards of safety and security in air travel.
How does this differ from the rules in the UK? Well, just like in the EU, the UK's Department of Transport announced in June that the 100ml liquids rule must be reintroduced at UK airports. The original plan was to have state-of-the-art scanning equipment installed in all UK airports by June 2024, which would allow travelers to bring liquids over 100ml in their carry-on bags. However, after new information came to light, the government realized that the systems needed improvement, causing them to miss their goal of lifting the hand luggage limit rules by this year. Some airports, such as London City Airport, were able to meet the deadline and update their systems, but smaller airports like Teesside and London City Airport struggled to do so in time, leaving airport officials frustrated with the sudden change of plans.
So when exactly does this 100ml liquid rule go into effect? As of today, it is back in place. However, it is not yet known when the rules will be relaxed again. It's unclear how long this situation will last, so it's probably best to stick to those mini toiletries for now.
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