June 2009
Is the end in sight for liquids ban?
The restrictions on taking liquids onto flights at UK airports may be coming to an end, following a successful three month trial of new X-ray scanning equipment at Manchester airport.
The new machines could also lead to shorter queues as passengers would need to spend less time at security. The new scanners are able to scan up to 1,800 bags per hour, as apposed to the current CT scanners which handle around 350 bags per hour.
Rapiscan Systems, the company which has developed the technology behind the new scanners, aims to have the scanners on sale by the end of the year, and claims the end of the liquids ban at Britain’s major airports could come ‘within 18 months’.
Under current regulations, passengers are unable to take containers of liquids larger than 100ml, with the exception of essential medicines and baby food and milk. Suitable size containers must be carried in a single clear plastic bag, with liquids limited to maximum of 1 litre.
