London, United Kingdom. London Heathrow has become the world’s largest airport to fully remove the 100 ml liquid restriction for departing passengers after installing advanced CT security scanners across all terminals.
New rules for liquids and electronics
Under rules effective Monday, travellers can carry liquids in containers of up to two litres in cabin bags and keep them inside luggage during screening, alongside electronic devices such as laptops. The requirement to use transparent plastic bags, introduced in 2006, has also ended.
How the CT scanners work
The scanners use Computed Tomography (CT) technology to produce high-resolution, 3D images of luggage contents, allowing security staff to review items from multiple angles without requiring passengers to remove them.
Capacity and safety
Heathrow officials said the technology allows the airport to process “thousands of passengers per hour” more efficiently while maintaining safety standards.
Scope of the change and travel advice
The change applies only to flights departing from Heathrow. Passengers have been advised to check baggage restrictions at destination airports before return flights to the United Kingdom, as many airports still enforce smaller liquid limits.
UK rollout and regulatory position
Heathrow’s rollout follows other UK airports, including Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, which upgraded systems in previous years. Bristol and Belfast have also adopted the two-litre limit. The Department for Transport (DfT) has not approved the higher limit for all airports with the new technology, and some locations still require liquids to be limited to 100 ml.
Have you checked what liquid restrictions apply at your destination airport before you travel?