New airport scanners herald change to liquids rule

Leeds Bradford Airport passengers no longer need to remove small liquids from their luggage after new security rules came into force at the terminal.

The airport has scrapped strict restrictions on liquids after introducing new, high-tech scanners.

Previously, 100ml bottles and electronic equipment had to be placed in a see-through bag to pass through security checks.

Now, although containers must still not exceed 100ml in size, they can remain in a passenger's luggage during the check-in process and each person can carry an unlimited number of bottles.

The new scanners provide staff with a much clearer view of the contents of bags.

The 100ml rule was introduced in 2006 due to fears over the terrorist threat from liquid bombs.

Passengers had been told they could take liquids in containers larger than 100ml in their carry-on bags - but the rules changed again on Sunday.

Leeds Bradford Airport Chief Executive Vincent Hodder said the alteration came after the government had issued a "change of direction".

He said: "With the new technology that we’ve been permitted, it now means that customers can now leave their electronics and their electrical items in the bag, and they can also leave their liquids in the bag.

"It avoids that process of having to stop, and have to sort it out separately," he added.

"It also avoids the re-packing at the other end of the security experience."

BBC Look North spoke to passengers who were positive about the changes.

One said: "We just went straight through, it's so much simpler. It just makes travelling a lot easier. It's a great new system."

Newcastle, London City, Aberdeen, Southend and Teesside airports also have the new Next Generation Security Checkpoints (NGSC) scanners installed and operate the same rules.

However most UK airports, including London Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester, still have the restrictions on liquids in place as their new scanners are not yet in place.

The Department for Transport said reintroducing restrictions would "enable further improvements to be made to the new checkpoint systems" and was not in response to a specific threat.

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