3D scanners at airports to end liquid restrictions

All major UK airports is to introduce 3D baggage scanners before 2022 according to a government statement, which will boost security speed up pre-boarding checks and could end restrictions on travelling with liquid and laptops.

The equipment is very similar to CT scanners used in hospital and is already being installed at London’s Heathrow Airport and will provide a clearer picture of a bag’s contents which staff can zoom in to 3D and rotate for inspection.

Currently, passengers taking liquid in their cabin baggage are restricted to containers holding no more than 100ml which must be shown to security staff in a single, transparent re-sealable plastic bag of about 20cmX20cm (8in) and the limits have been in place since November 2006.

Their introduction ended a ban on liquids in the cabin imposed three months earlier, when British police said they had foiled a plot to blow up as many as 10 planes using explosives hidden in drinks bottles.

Heathrow revealed they are spending £50m to roll out the new technology over the next few years. The technology is already being used by US airports.