The end is nigh for the strict rules regarding liquids in hand luggage at European airports. By the spring of 2018, a new type of scanner will remove the need for the EU rules that have applied since 2006, Jyllands-Posten reports.

Johnnie Müller – the head of security at Copenhagen Airport and chairman of the security committee of the airport trade organisation, Airports Council International (ACI) – told the newspaper the new scanners will alleviate hassle in the security check queues and eliminate the waste associated with oversized liquid containers.

“We are discussing with the EU Commission when it’s realistic to change the rules at the same time at all airports,” he said.

“That needs to happen without building twice as many checkpoints or employing three times as many staff. And there’s the fact that we’re expecting to be ready in the autumn of 2017 or, at the latest, the spring of 2018.”

What passengers want
At Copenhagen Airport 10 million passengers go through the security checks each year and 115 tonnes of liquids – including water bottles, soap, shampoo, alcohol perfume – have to be destroyed. The new scanners should put an end to this.

“You will be able to carry them in your hand luggage like before 2006,” Müller said.

“That’s what the equipment is supposed to be able to do, and that’s what the passengers want. Now we will test if the equipment works.”

Copenhagen Airport will begin testing the new scanners from next year.