Heathrow scraps 100ml liquid container limitGetty ImagesThe switch to CT scanners means clear transparent bags are no longer needed at the airportPassengers at Britain's biggest airport, Heathrow, can leave liquids in containers up to two litres in their bags while going through security, after it finally completed the rollout of new high-tech CT scanners. Electronics such as laptops can also be left in luggage, while clear plastic bags for liquids no longer have to be used. Heathrow now says it is the biggest airport in the world to have the new equipment fully rolled out across all its terminals. But while it has become the largest airport to roll out the new high-tech scanners, it is far from the UK's first, with Gatwick, Edinburgh and Birmingham airports having upgraded to them in recent years and increased to a two-litre limit. At most UK airports, passengers can keep liquid containers of up to 100ml in their luggage, without having to remove them and use clear plastic bags. Bristol and Belfast airports have also raised their liquid limits to two litres. However, other airports that have the new scanners installed are waiting for the green light from the Department for Transport (DfT) to raise the limit from 100ml. A recent report by consumer group Which? found that the sensitivity of the new scanners being rolled out means that at some airports, more bag searches end up being carried out by hand after passing through them. Heathrow said the scanners, which provide better images of cabin bags, could service "thousands of passengers an hour with significantly greater efficiency, while maintaining high safety and security standards". The rule change only applies to flights leaving Heathrow, and passengers must check restrictions on luggage at the airports they are returning from before boarding flights to the UK.
