The European Union is preparing to revise rules that have caused dissatisfaction among travelers for nearly two decades: the restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage.
This is reported by Finway
New Technologies Changing Security Rules
The European Commission has announced plans to implement modern scanners at EU airports that can check the contents of containers larger than 100 milliliters. Thanks to these technologies, the restrictions that have been in place since 2006 may be lifted. The system is already operational at some European airports, has received positive feedback from experts, and has proven effective in detecting potentially dangerous substances.
“The next step is the decision of the European Civil Aviation Conference. If it is positive, the restrictions could be lifted literally ‘overnight’.”
However, the speed of implementing these changes depends on the financial capabilities of the airports. Due to the high cost of equipment, not all aviation hubs will be able to quickly transition to the new rules, and the final date for lifting the restrictions is still unknown.
History of Restrictions and Reasons for Criticism
The rule limiting the maximum volume of liquid to 100 ml for hand luggage was introduced in 2006 after a foiled terrorist attempt on flights from the UK to the US and Canada. At that time, the perpetrators planned to use liquid explosives disguised as ordinary beverages. This led to strict restrictions for all passengers: all liquids, including gels, aerosols, lotions, and even toothpaste, had to be in containers no larger than 100 ml, and the total volume could not exceed 1 liter. Exceptions were made only for medications and baby food.
However, these rules have repeatedly faced criticism for being unnecessarily complicated for passengers and having limited effectiveness in preventing terrorist threats. With the development of advanced scanning technologies, many experts believe that such restrictions have already lost their relevance, as modern devices can detect dangerous liquids regardless of their volume.