Several major airports in the UK have admitted they will not be able to fully install new security scanners by the government’s deadline of June 2024.
The UK government set this deadline in December 2022 in a bid to finally end the 100ml limit on liquids being allowed in hand luggage, which has been in place since 2006. But this can only happen if airports are able to install new CT scanners across all security lanes.
Major airports such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester are making progress in installing the scanners but have admitted they are not going to finish this process by June’s deadline.
Some smaller airports such as London City and Teesside have already installed the necessary scanners allowing them to end the 100ml rule last year. Others such as London Luton airport have said they are “on track” to meet the June deadline.
Heathrow said it has been “delivering the programme as quickly as practically possible” with security lanes featuring the new CT scanners now installed in Terminals 2,3 and 5.
The UK hub airport emphasised that it had to install the new machines on 146 lanes compared with just 10 scanners for smaller airports. This required “meticulous planning and careful balance” to ensure the process did not restrict the flow of passengers through security and slow down their journeys.
Gatwick insisted that it will have made “significant progress” in installing the new scanners by the June deadline in both of its terminals.
“We currently plan to have completed the major logistical operation required to install the remaining scanners in Q1 of 2025, after the busy summer peak period has concluded,” said a spokesperson for Gatwick.
“The airport’s investment in this new technology means once the new scanners are phased in, the security process will be transformed with passengers no longer required to remove electrical items or put liquids in plastic bags.”
Meanwhile Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which runs Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, said that “several lanes” were already in operation using the new scanners.
The company added that the CT scanners would be in place on “a large number” of security lanes at its three airports by June 2024 with full completion of the process expected in 2025.
