Edinburgh Airport has become the latest major UK hub to roll out next generation security technology that makes carrying liquids through checkpoints far less stressful. In a landmark move for Scottish aviation, the airport has lifted the long-standing 100 millilitre liquid rule and now allows passengers to carry containers of up to two litres in their hand luggage without removing them from bags. The change places Edinburgh alongside early adopters such as London Gatwick, Belfast International, Bristol and London Heathrow, signalling a decisive shift in how airports handle security while promising a smoother, faster experience for travellers.
A watershed moment for Edinburgh and Scottish aviation
The lifting of the 100 millilitre liquid rule at Edinburgh marks the end of an era that began in 2006, when strict limits on liquids in cabin baggage were introduced in response to a foiled transatlantic bomb plot. For nearly two decades, passengers flying from Scotland’s busiest airport have decanted toiletries into tiny bottles and wrestled with single plastic bags at security queues. That ritual is now consigned to history for those departing Edinburgh, following a multimillion pound investment in new computed tomography security scanners across the airport’s checkpoints.
According to the airport’s latest security guidance, travellers can now bring multiple containers of liquids through security, each up to two litres in size, and keep them inside their hand luggage. There is no requirement to place gels, pastes or toiletries in a separate clear plastic bag. Large electronics such as laptops and tablets can also remain in cabin bags. The upgrade, which includes eight state of the art X ray lanes, is part of a broader push by Edinburgh’s operator, now part of the Vinci Airports network, to streamline airport processes while maintaining rigorous safety standards.
For Scotland, the move is highly symbolic. Edinburgh is the first Scottish airport to fully lift the 100 millilitre threshold, putting it on par with some of the most technologically advanced hubs in Europe. It sends a clear message that Scotland’s gateway cities intend to compete aggressively for international traffic by offering a more relaxed and passenger friendly airport experience. The shift is already being hailed by local tourism stakeholders as a potential boost for city breaks, conferences and events that rely on seamless air access.
Gatwick, Belfast, Bristol and Heathrow show the way
Edinburgh’s decision does not come in isolation. It joins a growing group of UK airports that have introduced similar policies after installing next generation scanners that create detailed three dimensional images of cabin baggage. London Gatwick and Belfast International were among the earlier adopters, using new CT based technology to relax traditional liquid controls and allow passengers to keep both liquids and electronics in their bags. Bristol Airport has also invested heavily in the new systems, though it has had to navigate evolving government directives that temporarily reinstated aspects of the old rules during the nationwide rollout.
Perhaps the most high profile member of this new wave is London Heathrow, which recently confirmed the scrapping of the 100 millilitre limit at its terminals following a vast security technology upgrade. Heathrow’s deployment of CT scanners now enables passengers to carry liquid containers of up to two litres in their hand luggage and leave them, along with laptops, inside their bags during screening. As one of the world’s busiest international airports, Heathrow’s shift is widely seen as a bellwether for the direction of aviation security in Europe and beyond.
The trend is not limited to the United Kingdom. From Krakow in Poland to Dublin in Ireland, multiple European hubs have begun relaxing liquid limits after installing the new generation of CT machines. Together, they are redefining what travellers can expect at security checkpoints, and their success is likely to accelerate similar changes elsewhere in the coming years.
How the new scanners change the security experience
The technological heart of this transformation lies in computed tomography scanners, the same core technology used in medical imaging. Instead of the traditional flat X ray images that security officers have relied on for years, CT machines generate three dimensional, rotatable images of the contents of a bag. This enables staff to virtually “unpack” luggage on screen, examine items from multiple angles and distinguish between benign liquids and potential threats with far greater accuracy.
For passengers, the most visible result is simplicity. At Edinburgh, as at Gatwick and Heathrow, travellers are now told that liquids and large electronics can stay inside hand luggage. There is no need to separate toiletries into 100 millilitre containers or place laptops in a separate tray. Security staff still ask passengers to remove belts, jackets and items from their pockets, and metallic or double walled bottles must be empty before screening, but the overall process involves fewer steps and fewer opportunities for delay.
Airports that have already transitioned to the new systems report measurable gains. Screening lines tend to move faster because there are fewer secondary checks caused by incorrectly packed bags or overfull liquid bags. Staff can focus more on interpreting detailed images than on policing plastic bag sizes, and passengers experience less anxiety about inadvertently breaching complex rules. For families, infrequent travellers and those connecting from airports that still use older technology, these changes can significantly reduce pre flight stress.
What passengers departing Edinburgh need to know
For travellers heading out of Edinburgh, the new policy is relatively straightforward. The airport’s security guidance confirms that liquids can remain inside hand luggage, with individual containers permitted to hold up to two litres. There is effectively no overall cap on the total volume of liquids, provided each container is within that limit. Liquids in this context include not only drinks and toiletries, but also gels, pastes, lotions, liquid foods, aerosols and similar items that have long fallen under aviation security definitions.
Passengers should still ensure that lids are fastened securely and that containers are packed sensibly inside their bags to prevent leaks. While the screening technology can handle a high level of detail, common sense packing remains essential to avoid both mess and potential manual checks if a bag appears cluttered on the scanner. Edinburgh’s security teams advise placing heavier items on top in the tray and ensuring that nothing is sticking out over the edges.
Metallic or double walled containers, including reusable metal water bottles, thermos flasks and vacuum flasks, must be empty when passengers reach security. The density of these items can interfere with imaging, and an empty container is easier to assess. Travellers can refill bottles at water stations in the departure area. Electrical items such as laptops, tablets and e readers can stay inside cabin bags, as can cameras and other personal electronics, a marked departure from the long standing requirement to unpack them into separate trays.
The catch: rules still differ from airport to airport
Despite the optimistic headlines, one crucial caveat remains. The relaxation of liquid rules at Edinburgh and other upgraded airports applies only at the point of departure from those terminals. There is still no single, unified standard across the United Kingdom, Europe or the wider world when it comes to liquid limits at security. Some airports have fully adopted the new technology and rules, others are part way through the transition, and many still operate under the original 100 millilitre framework.
For travellers, this means planning ahead. A passenger flying from Edinburgh to an airport that still enforces strict 100 millilitre limits may enjoy a hassle free experience on departure, only to run into issues on the return leg if they forget to repack liquids into smaller containers. The same applies to connecting flights. A connection through an older terminal, even within the same country, may require passengers to pass through security again under different rules.
Airports and airlines are urging travellers to check current security guidance for every airport on their itinerary, both outbound and inbound, before flying. This is especially important for passengers purchasing duty free liquids such as spirits or perfumes en route. While sealed duty free bags will normally be accepted at subsequent checkpoints, variations in national rules and the pace of technological rollout mean that unexpected restrictions can still arise. The safest approach remains to confirm the latest advice from both carriers and airports before setting off.
Why this matters for UK and European travel
The easing of liquid restrictions at major hubs such as Edinburgh, Gatwick, Belfast International, Bristol and Heathrow is about more than convenience. It represents a broader rethinking of how airports balance security with passenger experience. For years, the 100 millilitre rule has been one of the most visible and frustrating aspects of air travel, frequently cited by passengers as a source of confusion, delay and wasteful plastic use. The introduction of CT scanners offers a way to maintain rigorous screening while removing some of the rule’s more onerous side effects.
From an operational perspective, smoother security flows can translate into more predictable departure gates, reduced queuing stress and a more even distribution of passengers through the airport. Shops, restaurants and lounges benefit when travellers spend less time in line and more time airside. For airlines, reduced congestion at security can help protect on time performance, particularly during peak travel periods when queues traditionally balloon and cause knock on delays.
On a wider European level, countries that modernise their security infrastructure may gain a competitive edge in attracting both airlines and visitors. Airports that can promise quick and relatively relaxed security checks offer a tangible advantage over rivals that still require extensive unpacking and strict volume controls. In a travel market where passengers have more choice than ever about where to connect and which hubs to use for long haul journeys, these details increasingly matter.
Practical tips for a smoother journey through the new system
For travellers eager to take advantage of the new rules, a few practical steps can help ensure a seamless experience. First, pack liquids sensibly in your cabin bag. Even though you no longer have to decant into miniature bottles for departures from Edinburgh, it still pays to group toiletries in pouches or sections inside your hand luggage to prevent spills and make repacking easier at your destination. Keep frequently needed items, such as medication or contact lens solution, within easy reach but securely closed.
Second, allow for the fact that not every journey leg will depart from an upgraded airport. If your return flight or onward connection is from a hub that still applies the 100 millilitre limit, consider bringing a small set of travel sized containers and a spare transparent bag. These can be used to transfer essential liquids before your return journey, while leaving larger containers in checked baggage where possible. This approach can save both time and last minute purchases at the airport.
Finally, follow the remaining security basics that still apply at all upgraded airports. Empty your pockets into the tray, remove belts and heavy outerwear, and be ready to follow instructions from security staff. The new scanners reduce the need to unpack electronics and liquids, but they do not remove the need for cooperation and attentiveness at the checkpoint. The more smoothly passengers move through the process, the more benefit everyone gains from the enhanced technology.
What this signals for the future of airport security
The adoption of CT based scanners and the easing of liquid rules at Edinburgh and other leading airports suggest that the days of universal 100 millilitre limits are numbered, at least in regions able to invest in the new systems. As more terminals modernise their security halls, pressure will grow for regulators and airport operators to harmonise rules, reducing the current patchwork of different limits and procedures that can confuse passengers.
In the near term, however, travellers should not expect an overnight revolution. Many airports, particularly smaller regional facilities, still face logistical and financial hurdles in installing CT scanners across all lanes. National authorities must also continually assess the evolving security landscape, weighing the capabilities of new technology against emerging threats. As a result, liquid rules may continue to differ by country and airport for some time.
For now, Edinburgh’s move to join London Gatwick, Belfast International, Bristol, London Heathrow and several pioneering European hubs is a clear win for passengers using Scotland’s capital as their gateway. The ability to carry normal sized toiletries, keep electronics in bags and breeze through a more intuitive security process makes air travel a little less daunting. For travellers planning trips through the United Kingdom and beyond, this groundbreaking change is a strong sign that airport security, at least in some places, is finally catching up with what modern technology can safely deliver.