NEWS
‘Tiny toiletries’ look set to remain a feature for travellers until all CT scanners achieve a new level of certification and are universally installed at airports
Security concerns triggered last year’s liquids rule reimposition
Ian Taylor
The reimposition of 100ml restrictions on liquids, gels and aerosols in cabin bags at airports days after the limit was partially lifted just over a year ago was due to a security alert that larger volumes were unsafe. The details remain sensitive
for security reasons, but it required the manufacturers installing the 3-D scanners across larger UK airports to rewrite the algorithms for the machines’ software to heightened specifications, which so far only one manufacturer, Smiths Detection, has attained. Technically, Smiths’ scanners are
from universally deployed even in the UK, which may be most advanced. The US Transportation Security
STORY TOP
Administration (TSA) has even advised air passengers that, although 3-D scanners are being deployed in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, there is no immediate prospect of the restrictions being removed and suggested they would likely remain until 2040 (Travel Weekly, July 31). Richard Thompson,
Smiths Detection portfolios, innovation and digital vice-president, told
Travel Weekly: “Politically, there
is an appetite to try to make the experience easier for passengers. “There is a new administration
certified for screening and identifying liquids of more than 100ml without them being removed from cabin bags. But the 100ml restriction remains because other 3-D scanners are not yet approved and the scanners are far
travelweekly.co.uk
in the US, and we sense they want to accelerate that ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games in the US. “[But] the TSA has its own view on the threat profile for
passengers flying into the US, flying out and domestically, [and] it has a specific set of requirements. They’re confidential. “However, there has been a
rapprochement in the last two to three years, with the US technical advisory group sitting in the same room with [representatives of] the UK, Germany, Netherlands and, more recently, France and Spain to try to harmonise the testing methodologies, because that obviously has loads of benefits to avoid confusion and having to scan bags again.” Unfortunately, Thompson said:
“There is nothing confirmed.” He noted: “2040 is a long way
away and I’d hope it could be achieved far sooner. The fact that we’ve achieved testing [certification] on our machines means it is possible to fly safely with passengers having two litres of liquid in a cabin bag.” But he added: “Part of the
challenge is that the US isn’t comfortable with passengers flying in with two litres of liquid in bags. So, where an airport has a flight to the US and it’s the last point of departure, you would have different restrictions at the same airport depending on the destination. If we could get some harmonisation, that would be a big win.” For now, there is a mix of 3-D and
older, more limited X-ray security scanners across airports and even within some airports, with the UK ahead of most of the rest of the world, but only Smiths Detection’s 3-D scanner certified for liquids over 100ml. “The challenge is in the messaging
to passengers”, said Thompson. Passengers may be able to
keep 100ml liquids in their bags at security at their UK departure airport, but he warned: “Pay attention because it doesn’t mean
it will be the same coming back.” i Analysis, back page
14 AUGUST 2025 5
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Jaromir Chalabala
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
