A major UK airport has become the fourth airport to lift limits on liquids and electronic devices in hand luggage. Bristol Airport is the latest facility to install new security scanners which will remove the need for passengers to adhere to the strict 100ml rules for liquids and put them in clear plastic bags.
It also means passengers will no longer have to remove electronic devices such as laptops when going through security. Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) scanners were due to be introduced at major UK airports before this summer, with the government setting a nominal deadline of June 1, but many have had to be granted extensions – including Manchester Airport – with some not introducing the new technology until 2025 .
Aberdeen Airport, Teesside Airport and London City Airport have all installed machines that use 3D scanning technology and queue times have been reduced by 50 per cent since they started using the scanners. Bristol Airport has now joined them.
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Thanks to the new scanners, passengers will be able to carry bottles of up to two liters of liquid in their hand luggage. Bristol Airport has invested £11.5 million in the scanners, which will be operational from 14 June. Bristol Airport said that due to pending regulatory approval, only liquids up to 330ml can be carried. Passengers will have to empty the contents of their pockets into their bags and empty the contents of their metal water bottles.
Bristol Airport’s Chief Operating Officer said: “We are delighted that all customers traveling from Bristol Airport will benefit from the introduction of state-of-the-art security technology.
“The new facility will reduce stress and inconvenience for customers as there will no longer be a need to put 100ml liquids into clear plastic bags and remove them from hand luggage. This new process provides a much more customer-friendly security operation using the latest technology and provides improved screening, allowing customers to keep personal items in their carry-on bags.
“We have invested more than £11.5m in security equipment upgrades and as with any complex and large-scale 24/7 project, we needed to take a phased approach to rolling out new equipment. and processes. However, customers should be reminded that there are no immediate changes to the rules governing what can be carried through security as a result of this initiative, and the current cabin baggage restrictions remain in place until 14 June 2024.
“Customers are reminded that while the UK has introduced new security regulations for their return from destination airports, customers are advised to check the requirements of their departure 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 guided through a dedicated lane in the central search area during the upgrade.
The government previously announced it had granted extensions to several major UK airports that were unable to meet the June 1 deadline to fully install the new scanning technology. At airports that have not introduced them, the 100ml limit remains and containers must be placed in transparent plastic bags.
Ministers have extended several airports on a case-by-case basis by up to 12 months, which should be enough time for all airports to complete the work. The government is also exploring how financial penalties could be imposed for further non-compliance.
Heathrow Airport predicts all its security lanes will have 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 introduce new scanners for all passengers in April last year, following the introduction of airport security restrictions on liquids in 2006 due to a foiled terrorist plot to blow up planes flying from London to USA with homemade liquid explosives.
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