Big Bottles Back: Heathrow Drops 100ml Liquid Rule
Heathrow has scrapped the long-standing 100ml liquid rule at security after completing a major scanner upgrade. The airport confirmed that outbound passengers may now keep liquids and electronics inside their hand luggage, with individual containers permitted up to 2 litres. The change follows a £1bn investment in computed tomography (CT) scanners that produce detailed 3D images, removing the need for plastic bags and tray juggling at checkpoints.
What Now Changes at Security
- Liquids and laptops stay inside bags
- Containers up to 2 litres allowed
- No clear plastic bags required
- Applies only to Heathrow outbound checks
The restrictions were introduced in 2006 after a foiled bomb plot and became one of the most notorious bottlenecks in UK airport security. Heathrow joins Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick and Edinburgh in deploying CT machines, though timelines have varied. Executive Thomas Woldbye said the upgrade gives people less preparation stress at security and more freedom once through the gate.
“Every Heathrow passenger can now leave their liquids and laptops in their bags at security as we become the largest airport in the world to roll out the latest security scanning technology. That means less time preparing for security and more time enjoying their journey."
The new policy does not apply to return journeys abroad, and airports across Europe still operate under mixed rules. Travel firms have advised people to check security policies at their destination if they plan to carry full-size cosmetics, sunscreen or other liquids in cabin bags on the way home. Heathrow estimates the shift will also eliminate millions of plastic bags annually, addressing one of the quieter environmental downsides of airport security.
Beyond easing the queue, the change opens up more relaxed hand-luggage routines for UK-based city breaks and connections. Holidaymakers heading out of Heathrow now have an easier time keeping toiletries for beach destinations such as Lisbon and Nice, while business flyers bound for hubs like Frankfurt and Zurich can keep devices packed and powered through security. Longer cabin-range flights also benefit, including those to New York, Toronto and Cape Town that generate large volumes of transit traffic through Heathrow.
Heathrow’s move closes a confusing chapter of uneven UK rules, missed deadlines and temporary reversals during the pandemic recovery. For people flying out of London, the shift replaces fuss with predictability: fewer bag checks, fewer trays and less admin at the gate. The bigger question now is how quickly other countries mirror the change, as consistency across airports is what ultimately makes cabin-bag security feel effortless rather than a gamble.