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Airports criticized the government’s sudden re-introduction of 100ml limits on liquids in hand luggage last weekend.
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) said it had left airports “frustrated” and created uncertainty and confusion for passengers as the busiest time of the year approached.
After installing new high-tech scanning equipment, some regional airports lifted restrictions on liquids. The main nodes haven’t switched to the new rules yet, but they are rolling out machines.
The transport minister insisted the re-introduction of the old limits was “temporary”, but it was unclear how long the situation would last.
The government wants all UK airports to upgrade to “next generation” security.
The new scanners, which produce 3D images, should mean liquids of up to two liters and laptops can be stored in hand luggage to pass through security.
The likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester may have missed the deadline for their installation – June 1 this year – after various logistical challenges.
However, London City, Teesside, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Aberdeen and Southend complied in time to drop the old rules on liquids – some as early as last spring.
Birmingham completed the installation but was told to stick to the 100ml limit while it awaited regulatory approval.
But on Friday, a surprise announcement from the Department for Transport (DFT) said that from Sunday liquids, gels and pastes could only be collected through airport security in containers of 100ml or less.
The DFT said this was not in response to a specific threat, but “to enable further improvements to the new checkpoint systems”.
The sudden change caused consternation among airport bosses, who were only informed on Friday.
“Very limited preparation time”
Karen Dee, chief executive of trade body the Airport Operators Association, said hundreds of millions of pounds had been spent on a “huge” program of changes as ordered by the government.
She said airports supported the security decision, but Friday’s “surprise” announcement “left us with very little time to react” and it was “creating uncertainty for passengers just as airports enter their busiest times of the year”.
“It has also put airport operators in the challenging position of having very limited time to prepare for the additional staffing and wider resources this will require, and no clear idea of ​​when this issue will be resolved.”
Airports that have completely switched to the new systems and trained and rostered their staff accordingly are the most affected, as they are unable to fully utilize its expensive new equipment.
The change is believed to have led to more items being refused or confiscated as passengers turned up expecting to be allowed to take larger containers.
Some of the larger airports that were only partway through the rollout were using new scanners in some areas, so they also had to change ways of working quickly.
Thirty airport chiefs, along with the AOA, have today jointly written to the Transport Minister, the Aviation Minister and civil servants in response to Friday’s announcement.
Among the questions they want answered are how the decision was made, what it means for airports in the partial roll-out phase – with implications for staff training programs – and how long it will take to return to the 100ml limit.
Ms Dee said airports were doing everything they could to mitigate the impact. She asked passengers to come prepared to adhere to a fluid limit until further notice.
The DFT was asked to comment.