Heathrow announced on Friday that passengers will no longer have to remove liquids and laptops from their bags when passing through security.
It comes as the airport rolled out its new high-tech CT scanners in a £1billion upgrade. These scanners provide better images of the insides of cabin bags and promise a smoother journey for those travelling through the airport.
Announcing the change, Heathrow said it ill be able to handle “thousands of passengers an hour with significantly greater efficiency, while maintaining high safety and security standards".
Here’s everything you need to know about the new rules and how they vary from airport to airport across the capital.
Heathrow
Liquids in containers up to 2 litres can be kept in cabin bags and taken through security in all terminals at London Heathrow. That’s a significant increase on the previous limit of 100ml.
Refillable metal or double-walled containers, such as insulated water bottles, must still be emptied ahead of the scanners, but can be refilled after travelling through security.
Gatwick
Just like Heathrow, liquids no longer need to be 100ml or less to come through security at Gatwick. The airport allows passengers to travel with liquids of up to 2 litres in their cabin bags, provided they are in individual containers.
Passengers do not need to remove liquids or laptops from their bags.
Stansted
London Stansted still has a strict limit of under 100ml in hand luggage, which applies to liquids, aerosols and gels.
However, the airport does not require passengers to put them in a plastic bag or to take them out to go through security. On Stansted’s website, it says: “Liquids under 100ml no longer need to be in a plastic bag and can be left in your hand luggage.
“Because of this limited liquid allowance on flights, we recommend packing liquids in your hold luggage if possible.”
Luton
London Luton Airport applies the same rule to its passengers: All liquid containers in your hand luggage must be under 100ml/100g each, which includes creams, pastes, lotions and gels.
Like Stansted, a plastic bag is no longer required, and passengers are asked to keep their liquids inside their bags for security screening.
London City
London City still requires passengers to keep liquids to a 100ml limit. However, passengers can keep their liquids inside their hand baggage.
Southend
London Southend also keeps to a 100ml limit, which applies to liquids and gels. But thankfully, passengers can do away with plastic bags and keep their liquids in their hand luggage.
