European airports faced a setback in security policy as Brussels backed away from a recent measure. Starting in September, the limit on liquids carried in cabin baggage will be set at 100 milliliters, and travelers will again be required to remove these containers along with laptops and other electronic devices at security checkpoints, even when modern scanners are in use. These new-generation scanners are already deployed in several countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Aena has them at Madrid and Barcelona airports, while Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan is expected to install them in November. The scanners themselves will undergo refinements to boost their performance in ensuring air travel safety.
In July 2024, the European Commission approved a regulation amending another rule from 2015 to tighten urgent air-safety measures for screening liquids, aerosols, and gels. This amendment will come into force on September 1, and passengers will again need to pack only individual containers not exceeding 100 milliliters in their cabin baggage and remove them for inspection, as will electronic devices. The change stems from the need to reassess the settings of the C3 scanners. The commission originally authorized devices with explosives-detection systems in cabin baggage under the C3 standard. However, as a precautionary safeguard for the security of air transport, the 100-milliliter liquid limit has been reimposed.
The International Council of Airports, acting through its European arm, the ACI Europe, issued a strong statement criticizing Brussels’ move as a setback for passenger experience and a blow to the substantial investments already made. It cautioned that passenger flow through security checks would slow noticeably. Moreover, the EU has not provided a timeline for when these restrictions might be lifted, adding an element of uncertainty for travelers.
Travelers previously enjoyed the advantage of not having to remove liquids or electronics from bags during security screening across much of Europe. This eased operations, particularly at peak travel times. As more airports invested in the C3 scanners, including those in the Aena network, the new regulation impacts terminals that have already completed or planned installations. The changes are seen as penalizing those airports that modernized their security infrastructure, potentially slowing down overall airport throughput at busy hubs.