Tom Earnshaw
The wait was almost over for Brits flying overseas. But now the mind-numbing 100ml liquid limit placed on our hand luggage has been brought back in across the United Kingdom and European Union.
Trying to fit in your suncream, deodorant, toothpaste and smellies is one of the biggest annoyances when packing for a trip overseas, with everything having to fit inside a 20cm by 20cm plastic bag since the early 2000s.
And everything being packed had to be no more than 100ml in capacity or it'd be binned by staff running the airport security scanners.
There has been exceptions to the cap, with prescribed medicine and baby food permitted (as long as the latter is sealed).
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New, advanced scanners have been installed across airports throughout 2024, with some ahead of others in getting them across the line in time for the busy summer months.
Now with those behind us and autumn on the cards, those looking to enjoy the sun outside of the bedlam of the school holidays have been warned that the 100ml rule is being brought back across all UK airports and many in Europe due to a 'temporary technical issue'.
The issue impacts the new scanners, which when working, allow travellers to take up to two litres of liquid in their hand luggage. The liquids can also be packed anywhere in the bag, with the 20cm by 20cm bag a thing of the past.
But the European Commission announced in late July that from 1 September, the 100ml limit would be returning. Currently, there is no date for when the rules will be relaxed again.
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In the UK, the Department for Transport said it has been 'working with manufacturers, airports and international partners to lift restrictions when possible'.
The Europe branch of the Airports Council International (ACI) has estimated that there are 350 of the new scanners in place across 13 EU countries, including Italy, Germany, and Ireland.
ACI bosses have said it be a 'setback for the passenger experience and a blow to major investments made by airports'.
ACI director general, Olivier Jankovec, said: "Security is non-negotiable, it is one of the top priorities of European airports.
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"Therefore, all airports will fully comply with the new restriction. However, airports that have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised, both operationally and financially."
In the UK, some smaller airports such as Leeds-Bradford Airport had scrapped the 100ml limit in the summer with customers breezing through security check.
Scanners at larger airports, such as Heathrow and Manchester, hadn't opened in time, with them set to be fully operational by the summer of 2025.