EU to Reintroduce 100ml Liquid Rule at Europe’s Airports in September

The EU has made changes to its Aviation Security Regulation, which introduce severe restrictions to the use of next generation cabin baggage scanners at airports in the EU, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway (EEA).

The amendments involve C3 scanners, the cutting edge technology upholding high detection standards, which until now allowed passengers to carry liquids without any restriction and to keep them along with their large electronic devices inside their cabin bags at security checkpoints.

However, the new restriction introduces as of 1 September 2024 a 100ml limitation for individual containers of liquids, thus erasing the main benefit accruing to passengers from C3 scanners.

ACI Europe: New restriction delivers blow to investments made by airports

A C3 scanner. Photo source: ACI Europe

According to European airport trade body ACI Europe, the new restriction delivers a setback for the passenger experience and “a blow” to major investments made by airports.

In an announcement, the trade body said the restriction will also reduce the passenger throughput of security checkpoints at airports that have deployed C3 scanners.

“It will result in significant operational strain, the mitigation of which will require the deployment of additional staff and the reconfiguration of security checkpoints, where feasible,” ACI Europe said.

Airports are ‘heavily penalised’

Moreover, the European airport trade body said the new restriction means that those airports that have already invested in C3 scanners to improve the passenger experience and their operational efficiency are “heavily penalised” – as little of the benefits associated with the use of this cutting edge technology will materialise.

“Purchasing C3 scanners is on average 8 times more expensive than the conventional X-ray screening machines they are replacing, while operating maintenance costs are 4 times higher,” ACI Europe said.

Photo source: London City Airport

C3 scanners had been deployed by airports in countries including Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden. However, ACI Europe said investments have been committed by airports in many other countries.

Although the restriction is intended to be temporary, ACI Europe said that “no timeline and no process” have been put in place to lift it.

The European airport trade body is calling on the European Commission and Member States to urgently develop a roadmap with set milestones to waive the current restrictions and restore the trust in the EU certification system for aviation security equipment.

“In the meantime, in order to limit operational impacts, it will be essential to ensure that liquids limited to 100ml can remain inside cabin bags when screened by C3 scanners,” ACI Europe said.