A major UK airport has become the fourth to lift restrictions on liquids and electronic devices in hand luggage. Bristol Airport is the latest to install new security scanners, which removes the need for travelers to follow the strict 100ml liquid rules and place them inside clear plastic bags.
It also means passengers will no longer need to remove electronic devices such as laptops when going through security. Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) scanners were set to be rolled out across major UK airports before this summer with the government setting a nominal deadline of June 1, but many had to be given extensions – including Manchester Airport – with some not bringing the new technology to market until 2025.
Aberdeen, Teesside and London City Airports have all installed machines using 3D scanning technology and have seen queue times cut by 50 per cent since the scanners came in, removing the need for manual bag checks. Now they have been joined by Bristol Airport.
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Thanks to the new scanners, passengers will be able to carry bottles containing up to two liters of liquid in their luggage. Bristol Airport has invested £11.5 million in the scanners, which will be operational from June 14. Bristol Airport said that, due to exceptional regulatory approval, only liquids up to 330ml can be carried. Passengers will need to empty the contents of pockets in their bag and empty the contents of metal water bottles.
Bristol Airport’s Chief Operating Officer said: “We are delighted that all customers traveling from Bristol Airport will benefit from the latest security technology introduced.
“The new device will reduce customer stress and worry as the need for 100ml liquids to be placed in clear plastic bags and removed from hand luggage will no longer be required. The new process provides a much more customer-friendly security operation using the latest technology and offering improved screening, allowing customers to carry personal items in their hand luggage.
“We have invested over £11.5m in security equipment upgrades, and as with all complex and large-scale projects in a 24/7 operation, we needed to take a phased approach to introducing the equipment new and processes. However, customers should be reminded that there are no immediate changes to the rules governing what can be taken through security as a result of this initiative, and the current hand baggage restrictions remain in place until 14 June 2024.
“Customers are reminded that while the UK has introduced new security regulations on their return from destination airports, customers are advised to check the requirements of their departing airport as these regulations may differ from the UK.”
Bristol Airport is also upgrading its Fast Track security channels between 14 June and 31 July. Fast Track pre-booked customers will be directed through a dedicated lane in the Central Search area while the update is underway.
The government previously announced it had granted extensions to some major UK airports unable to meet its June 1 deadline to fully install the new scanning technology. In airports that have not installed them, the limit remains 100 ml and the containers must be placed in clean plastic bags.
Ministers have granted extensions of up to 12 months for some airports on a case-by-case basis, which is expected to be enough time for all of them to complete the work. The government is also considering how financial penalties could be imposed for further non-compliance.
Heathrow Airport has predicted that all its security lanes will have the new scanners by this summer, while Gatwick aims to complete the program by March next year. Manchester Airports Group, which manages Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted airports, estimates that their scanners will be fully deployed by 2025.
London City made history as the first major UK airport to implement the new scanners for all passengers in April last year, following the introduction of airport security restrictions on liquids in 2006 due to a foiled terror plot intended to blow up planes flying from London to the US with homemade liquid explosives.
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