Starting on Sunday, June 9, the Department for Transport (DfT) has temporarily reinstated restrictions on carrying more than 100ml of liquids in hand luggage at six UK airports. This measure affects Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, London City, Aberdeen, Southend, and Teesside airports, which had previously lifted the 100ml restriction after installing new security scanners.
Most UK airports still enforce the 100ml liquid limit as they have not yet installed the new scanners. The DfT has not updated its website with the revised rules but issued a statement, explaining: “From 00:01 on Sunday, June 9, 2024, the 100ml liquid restrictions will temporarily be reintroduced for passengers traveling from six regional airports where Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) are in full operation.”
The statement continued, “This temporary measure is to facilitate further improvements to the new checkpoint systems and will only affect a small number of passengers. For most passengers, security measures will remain unchanged. Passengers should continue to check security requirements with their departure airport before traveling.”
Leeds Bradford Airport advised passengers that containers of up to 100ml can be carried through security in hand baggage without needing to be placed in plastic bags. They added, “There is no specified limit to the number of 100ml liquid containers that may be carried. Existing exceptions for prescription medicines and baby formula in containers greater than 100ml will continue to apply, and these items must be removed from bags and screened separately.”
The reason for reintroducing the 100ml liquid rule and the duration of this measure remain unclear. A spokesperson for the DfT stated that the department “would not be commenting on the matter.”
Transport Secretary Mark Harper told BBC News, “For most passengers, the rules haven’t changed at all yet and won’t therefore change tonight. It’s a temporary measure and we’ll set out when that can be reversed in due course.”
