Stricter Hand Luggage Rules Coming to EU Airports Starting September 1, 2024: What You Need to Know

New Restrictions on Liquids for Air Travelers

Travelers preparing for air journeys with carry-on baggage are in for disappointing news.
Starting September 1st, restrictions on liquids will be reinstated, limiting passengers to containers of 100ml each.
Not only must these items be kept separate, but travelers will also have to present them for security screening.
This announcement came from the Airports Council Europe, and highlights how the brief relief from liquid transport limits has come to a sudden halt.

It’s important to note that the previous relaxation of these restrictions had only applied to select European airports equipped with C3 scanners.
In Italy, this was limited to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, and Linate airports.
These advanced scanners utilize medical technology to quickly create a 3D image of the contents in a bag, enhancing security screening processes.

Return to Manual Checks and Implications

With the new restrictions, even airports that recently adopted C3 scanning technology will need to revert to earlier methods involving manual checks for liquids.
This shift will inevitably lead to longer wait times during security checks and will require additional staff.
This comes after significant investments airports made to implement these sophisticated machines, which are notably eight times costlier than conventional X-ray machines.
Maintenance expenses for C3 scanners are four times higher as well, making this a frustrating turn of events.

Reasons Behind the New Liquid Limitations

The reinstatement of liquid limits in carry-on baggage stems from technical issues identified with the new scanning machines.
European Commission spokesperson Adalbert Jahnz explained that these limitations are temporary.
He emphasized that problems have been detected, and until they are resolved, old practices will resume.
The duration of this limitation is currently unclear, as the timeline for potential removal has not been disclosed.

Decreased Liquids: What to Expect

Travelers need to remember that starting in September, those flying with carry-on luggage will again be restricted to a total of 1,000ml of liquids, all of which must be stored in a single transparent plastic bag, ready for inspection at the security scanner.
The liquid limit has been in place since 2006, implemented as an urgent temporary measure to thwart terrorist attacks, as restricting liquids makes it nearly impossible to assemble explosives on board.
What began as a temporary precaution has become a lasting regulation, at least until the advent of C3 scanners.

For further information, you can visit [Airports Council Europe](https://www.aeroportrcouncil.org).