When you have to pack your suitcase for a trip of a few days, for which a hand baggage is sufficient to take on the plane, one of the biggest difficulties is undoubtedly the management of liquids. Bottles of shampoo, soap, shaving cream and deodorant must not exceed 100 ml in capacity, forcing those departing to purchase specific travel containers. All this is about to be overcome: in some airports in the United Kingdom this rule has finally been relaxed and it is likely that this will also happen in other countries in the future. How is it possible? Thanks to a special technology that allows you to analyze the contents of your luggage with even more precision.
The situation in the United Kingdom
The first airport to abolish this rule in Europe was Shannon, Ireland, in March 2022. Now it’s the turn of the United Kingdom, which intends to cancel the obligation to subject liquids to a dedicated scan by June in 2024. The timing could be extended, since it is first necessary to install the new technology in the airports which will allow more widespread checks. Meanwhile, in the country, airports such as Newcastle, Teesside and London City Airport have already followed this path.
The current regulation
The liquid regulations currently in force were hastily introduced in 2006, as temporary measures to protect against any kind of terrorist attack, since with the 100 ml limit it is impossible to assemble bombs or explosives on board. At the moment the rules in the European Union are very clear: liquids traveling in hand luggage must be transported in transparent containers (with a maximum capacity of 100 ml), which in turn must be placed in a transparent plastic bag that does not exceed total capacity of 1 litre.
New technologies
The new rules regarding the control of liquids are made possible through the use of CT scanners, a new technology adopted in airports. These devices use Computed Tomography to examine the contents of luggage: a method, originally developed for medical use, which helps identify the composition of liquids present in hand luggage, thus facilitating the immediate distinction between harmless substances and potential threats. According to British sources, the English government would have required airports to equip themselves with such scanners by the end of 2022, but the pandemic has slowed down the entire process.
The situation in Italy
In the Peninsula, at present, the airports of Milan Linate, T1 of Milan Malpensa, T1 of Rome Fiumicino and Turin are equipped with this technology (one device). However, the National Civil Aviation Authority invites passengers to inform themselves before leaving to avoid unpleasant surprises, especially in any stopovers or at the arrival airport.
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