Some airports had previously relaxed the rule limiting liquids to 100ml, including Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, when new 3D scanners were introduced.
These devices were intended to be capable of detecting the contents of hand luggage, differentiating from a harmless liquid and a possible explosive device.
The hope was that the scanners would not only make travel safer, but also lead to shorter queues at the airport and less hassle for travellers.
However, after months of testing, the European Commission decided that flaws in the devices necessitated a temporary return to the old rules for liquids, which have been in place since 2006.
In a press note the EC states: “The European Commission will temporarily enforce restrictions on liquid screening at EU airports utilising Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB).
What does this mean for travellers?
Basically, if you’re travelling through an airport that has already installed the new EDSCB scanners, you’ll soon need to abide by the old rules on carrying liquids in hand luggage.
If you travel through airports that are yet to install them, nothing changes.
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What about electronic devices?
The other time-saving benefit of these new EDSCB scanners is that you no longer need to take out your electronic devices from your hand luggage.
According to the latest EC information available, the temporary rule change will not affect this.
When does this change come into effect?
From September 1st 2024. Per the EC statement: "Effective from 1 September 2024, the maximum allowed size for individual liquid containers will revert to the standard 100ml for airports operating this type of equipment."
Though the EC describes the reintroduction of this liquid limit rules as “temporary”, it is unclear how long the rules will be in place.
Airports that already limit liquids to 100ml or that have not deployed EDSCB equipment will not be affected by this change.
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What does this mean for France?
It depends where you’re travelling from.
Several European airports had introduced the devices, including Madrid, Amsterdam-Schiphol, Barcelona, Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Malta, Rome-Riumicino, Stockholm-Arlanda, Zurich, Dublin and Frankfurt.
Other airports such as Copenhagen, Vienna and Geneva announced they would be equipped with the scanners by 2026.
In France, the two airports with the devices still had not generalised their usage as of March 2024. The scanners were used only for a few select security queues, with plans to standardise the scanners across 250 platforms in both airports by 2028.
As such, most passengers will not notice a huge change in the return to the old rules about liquids.
Nevertheless, the setback is disappointing for the ADP (Aéroports de Paris) group who spent several million euros on the scanners.
Why are they doing this?
The EC claims this is a “precautionary measure” due to a technical issue and not due to a heightened security risk.
This is according to a decision taken by the Airports Council International (ACI) when it was revising EU Aviation Security Regulations, which has introduced severe restrictions on the use of these new sorts of scanners.
Due to their state-of-the-art technology they previously allowed travellers around Europe to carry liquids in their hand luggage without the 100ml restriction, but the technical measure means this has been scrapped for now.
The step backwards is also happening in other international airports that had introduced the devices, including British airports such as London-City and Birmingham, who reintroduced liquid restrictions after noticing flaws in the EDSCB equipment.
Why are there limits on liquids in airports?
EU Aviation Security Regulations limits liquids, aerosols, and gels to 100ml. This is because traditional security equipment cannot detect liquid explosives effectively.
However, there are often exceptions made for medicines and baby products.
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