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Liquids in hand luggage: Where have the rules already been loosened?

To prevent terrorist attacks involving liquid explosives, the 100-milliliter limit on liquids in hand luggage was introduced at airports twenty years ago. Since then, passengers have been obliged to present these small containers in a transparent, resealable plastic bag at security checkpoints. This is currently changing at many airports, thanks to innovative CT scanners. Here’s an overview:

The new scanners generate high-resolution 3D images that can identify liquid explosives. At airports that already possess these devices, the liquid restrictions are being phased out. At some of these airports, passengers are allowed to carry up to two liters of liquid per container in their carry-on luggage. The CT scanners are in use at the following German airports:

  • Berlin, BER (in some areas)
  • Frankfurt (in some areas; although there are now over 50 CT scanners equipped with the APIDS AI system in use here, Fraport states that the general 100-ml rule officially remains in effect)
  • Munich (in some areas)
  • Nuremberg (all security checkpoints)

There are already several CT scanner systems in Hamburg, Cologne, and Düsseldorf as well. However, the 100-milliliter limit is still in effect there.

Internationally, the new scanners are also on the rise, for example at London Heathrow (no 100-milliliter limit), Rome Fiumicino (partially), Madrid, and Palma (both partially). This list is not exhaustive.

Many other airports are still in the testing and implementation phase, and some have not yet installed the CT scanners at all their security checkpoints. You should therefore check the current procedures at your departure airport shortly before your trip. 

Sources: msn.com, reisereporter.de, adac.de, urlaubspiraten.de .