For those born after a certain period, there is no reality in which you can carry a bottle of water or a large container of hand cream on board a flight.
After the 9/11 attacks, the US government was looking for any and all ways to crack down on terrorism and introduced the 3-1-1 rule in 2006 after discovering that some had attempted to smuggle explosives into a water bottle. The system, which requires all liquids, gels or aerosols less than 3.4 fluid ounces to be packaged in a single clear bag, was quickly adopted by other nations; The last 1 in the rule's name comes from the fact that 3.4 ounces equals 100 milliliters in the metric system.
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Over the next 20 years, the stringency of the requirement has been relaxed somewhat. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibits liquids larger than 100 ml, but does not separate the bags of those who do not have them in a single bag, while many countries are working to eliminate the liquid rule altogether.
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UK is in 'regular contact with airports' over new security measures
In a recent announcement, the UK Department for Transport said travelers will be able to carry liquids in containers larger than 100ml when the country introduces a new type of 3D scanner by June 2024, although not all airports will be able to comply with that. . deadline.
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Since computed tomography (CT) will scan the entire contents of belongings more thoroughly than ever, there will no longer be a need to flag liquids as a higher risk.
“The UK has some of the strongest aviation security measures in the world and this cutting-edge technology will improve safety and enhance the passenger experience,” the Department for Transport said. said in a statement to the Simple Flying aviation website.
The government agency further said it is “in regular contact with airports as they move towards…improving their equipment and screening processes, but cannot” speak in detail about aviation security measures.
These are some of the other countries that are reconsidering the liquid rule
Major airports, such as London Heathrow and Manchester, will be the first to start using the new scanners, but even then, not all security clearance lanes will have one, so it may take some time to eliminate the liquid rule for everyone. .
While the United States has yet to announce any plans to eliminate the liquids rule despite also investing in the latest scanner technology, several European countries have begun introducing new 3D scanners at their airports and have pledged to phase out the rule. of liquids once their use becomes more frequent. .
Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport and Rome Leonardo da Vinci International Airport are some of the airports that have already started installing 3D scanners, while officials in Spain and Portugal have also talked about a timeline for removing the liquids rule.
The Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport in Barcelona could begin dismantling it in some sections of the airport as early as the summer of 2024.
