Hand baggage restrictions on liquid containers over 100 millilitres have already been lifted at some European airports below new EU laws, however when will it occur in Spain?
The 100ml liquid rule has been in pressure since 2006, when British authorities foiled a terrorist plot the place liquid explosives have been hidden in a drink.
The restriction applies to liquids corresponding to drinks, but additionally gels, pastes, lotions, lotions and different beauty merchandise.
The rule means that you would be able to solely take liquid containers of as much as 100ml of every merchandise in your hand baggage, sometimes carried in a small clear plastic bag for airport safety to test simply.
Nonetheless, a number of years in the past quite a few nations world wide (in addition to the EU and Spain) introduced they might scrap the 100ml liquid restriction, because of the introduction of latest know-how.
New superior computed tomography (CT) scanners can now precisely detect every thing in larger element inside your bag, and plans have been in place to roll them out to airports internationally.
In consequence, the restrict was because of be scrapped in summer time 2024, however the European Fee delayed it, and the ruling was in the end saved in place.
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Some airports even briefly trialled the brand new scanners and lifted restrictions in the summertime of 2024, corresponding to London Metropolis, Southend and Newcastle within the UK, however then determined to maintain the rule in place.
Presently, airports geared up with the know-how within the EU embody main hubs corresponding to Milan, Rome, Berlin and Amsterdam, the place you possibly can journey from with liquids larger than 100ml. Within the UK, solely Birmingham and Edinburgh airports have scrapped the 100ml rule up to now.
READ ALSO: 5 main Italian airports scrap 100ml liquid restrict for hand baggage
So, what about Spain?
Spain’s state-owned airport operator Aena has mentioned that many of those 3D scanners have already been put in at airports within the nation, however they’re not but absolutely operational.
“The European Fee has just lately authorised the usage of state-of-the-art scanners at European airports,” Aena advised information web site El Confidencial Digital.
Nonetheless, they confirmed that Aena-run airports will keep the restriction on liquids till the deployment is full and “the suitable circumstances exist for its implementation with out affecting operations”.
Moreover, the rise in air site visitors through the busy summer time season signifies that Aena deems it too dangerous to partially elevate the 100ml rule at some airports with out producing confusion amongst passengers, and such a smooth launch would inevitably result in holdups at a time once they can’t afford operations to run slowly.
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So we don’t know precisely when the scanners can be in operation in Spain and when the rule can be scrapped, though the impression is that Aena will wait till the measure is extra widespread throughout Europe and when journey has slowed down barely in Spain (if that’s ever the case anymore).
What we do know is which Spanish airports will drop the regulation first.
Palma de Mallorca, Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El-Prat are set to be the primary Spanish airports the place you’ll have the ability to journey with liquids which are greater than 100ml in your hand baggage, that means you could possibly lastly have the ability to take your favorite bottle of Spanish wine or olive oil with you again house or to take to family and friends.
Palma de Mallorca Airport already has 18 inspection lanes geared up with these techniques, which was a part of an enormous renovation ongoing since 2023.
Madrid airport has put in state-of-the-art 3D X-ray scanners in its 4 terminals that detect explosives with nice precision.
Already this summer time, passengers at Barajas Airport not needed to take away liquids or digital units from their baggage at safety checkpoints, regardless that the 100ml rule was nonetheless in place.
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Aena hopes to roll out the know-how subsequent to airports in Málaga, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Menorca, Bilbao, Alicante-Elche, Valencia and Ibiza. These airports all have excessive passenger site visitors and so have been given precedence.
The scanners are anticipated to be rolled out absolutely in 2026 as a part of a €1.17 billion funding plan to modernise safety throughout all the community, which can final till 2028.
Aena has additionally hinted that the present 100-millilitre restrictions will stay in place and won’t be lifted till all high-volume airports have the brand new know-how, that means that passengers in Spain should want to attend a yr.
“Any adjustments can be made as soon as the suitable circumstances for his or her implementation are in place” they state.
