Airports across Europe readying to relax stringent liquid regulations amid growing discontent
EU Airports Gradually Ease Liquid Restrictions with New Scanners
A significant change is underway at European Union airports, as they begin to relax the long-standing 100ml liquid restriction for hand luggage. This shift, which started in mid-2025, is being facilitated by the introduction of advanced 3D computed tomography (CT) scanners at selected airports.
The rollout of these new scanners, capable of detecting both solid and liquid explosives, has already commenced in airports such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol, Milan Linate, and others across Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. However, the transition is uneven, with only airports using CT scanners approved by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and meeting the EU’s technical standards—particularly those from the manufacturer Smiths Detection—able to apply the relaxed rules.
The German Airports Association (ADV) considers the new technology safe and reliable. Despite doubts that emerged about the reliability of CT scanners last year, prompting the EU to mandate additional testing, the new scanners have received official approval.
Air travelers at certain airports in Germany may soon be able to carry up to two liters of liquids in their hand luggage. However, at Frankfurt airport, no policy changes are planned due to the uncertainty about scanner assignment for individual passengers. In Munich, Germany's second-biggest hub, the scanners are available in large numbers, but necessary software upgrades will be postponed to avoid disrupting the summer travel season.
It is important to note that items must still be placed in resealable plastic bags of up to one liter. Despite the installation of the new scanners, the EU Commission has not announced any immediate changes to the liquid rules, and the rules will not be relaxed immediately as most airports are not equipped with the technology.
About 700 CT-based scanners are already in use or being installed across airports in 21 EU countries. The installation of the new scanners is ongoing across various airports in the EU. The European Commission confirmed that the exact timing depends on each airport’s investments and approvals, and full adoption could take years.
The relaxation of liquid restrictions is a response to the original introduction of the rule in 2006, following a foiled terror plot involving the use of liquid explosives onboard a plane. As the new scanners become more widespread, passengers can expect eased liquid restrictions at EU airports, but the policy will gradually roll out and remain uneven until a wider installation of certified machines ensures a uniform approach.
- The rollout of new 3D CT scanners, approved by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and meeting EU’s technical standards, such as those from Smiths Detection, is enabling select European Union airports to gradually ease liquid restrictions for hand luggage.
- News about the relaxation of the long-standing 100ml liquid restriction in Europe is being widely covered by the media, as these advanced scanners are installed at airports like Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol, and others across Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Ireland.
- According to the German Airports Association (ADV), the new technology being implemented is both safe and reliable, ensuring passengers a more convenient travel lifestyle.
- With over 700 CT-based scanners already in use or being installed across airports in 21 EU countries, travelers looking forward to less stressful hand luggage checks can expect eased restrictions to spread gradually across Europe, but the policy will remain uneven until a wider installation of certified machines ensures a uniform approach.
