Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airport liquid rules as 100ml axe starts to roll out

A major airport in Scotland has scrapped its rules surrounding how much liquid passengers can bring in their hand luggage.

From today (April 26), those flying out of Aberdeen International Airport will no longer be relegated to a 100ml limit for liquids, nor will they have to be separated into plastic bags. The change comes as the travel hub has installed new scanners that are slowly being rolled out across the UK.

Aberdeen is the third airport in the UK to bring in the new equipment, following Teeside International and London City Airports. Earlier this month, the government announced it would be extending the date that all airports must bring in this new "cutting edge" technology, which has been announced as this June.

While this is likely to make trips through airport security safer and easier, it's important to know that the rule still remains in other airports and guidelines may differ for your return trip. Therefore, it is important to check what the process is at both your departing and any other airports you will travel through or from before you set off.

Here's what you should know about the change.

Why is the 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage being scrapped?

Aberdeen, Scotland's third largest airport, has changed its rules on hand luggage liquids after installing the latest Next Generation Security Checkpoint (NGSC) scanners.

These new devices detect items with great accuracy, eliminating the need for flyers to remove them from their baggage. Not only do they make the 100ml rule non-applicable, it also means that electrics like laptops, tablets and more can remain in carry-on bags.

William Wallace, Security Manager at Aberdeen International Airport, said: “We are delighted to have the NGSC scanners operational at Aberdeen. We are well ahead of the deadline set by the Government thanks to all the hard work from our staff and contractors.

“This is one of the biggest changes in airport security so we would ask passengers to be prepared for this new process and to have patience as we enter the biggest change in aviation security in nearly two decades. Passengers are reminded that different rules may apply at other UK airports."

How much liquid can I now bring through security?

Anyone travelling through Aberdeen can now pack up to two litres of liquid in their carry-on.

The airport's current website guidelines state: "Passengers can travel with containers with up to two litres of liquid inside. Explosive or flammable liquids, and those that are considered toxic, are not permitted in either hand or hold luggage."

Does the 100ml rule still apply at Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports?

As of now, Scotland's other major airports still require passengers to follow the 100ml hand-luggage rules, but this will likely change either before or by the government deadline of June 2024.

Glasgow Airport's guidelines state that "liquids may only be carried in containers holding 100ml or less". All must be stored in a transparent, plastic bag with a capacity of no larger than one litre and 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) in size.

The following exceptions may be made to the 100ml rule:

• Baby food or baby milk – please carry what you need for the flight. Some liquids may be selected for security testing.
• Liquid medicines - Please provide evidence for the requirement of medication for your flight.
• Airport purchased goods over 100ml must be presented in a security tamper evidence bag. The bag will be provided to you on point of purchase and must not be opened until you reach your final destination.

Rules in place at Edinburgh Airport are the same, with online guidelines advising: "There’s a 100 ml max rule for each liquid you take in your carry-on, so if you’re bringing hold luggage anyway then it’s easiest to pack them in there. Remember to pop all your 100 ml containers in a single, transparent, reusable plastic bag and keep this separate from your hand luggage.

"Your clear bag should be no bigger than 20 cm by 20 cm and hold a maximum of one litre’s worth of liquids - you can pick one up at the security search area. Bear in mind that all gels, pastes, lotions, liquid-solid mixtures (including food) and pressurised containers also count as liquids."

The following items must be removed from bags at Edinburgh Airport for inspection:

• Baby milk and food
• Medicines
• Duty Free (STEB) over 100 ml
• Laptop, iPad, e-reader
• Large electrical items such as hair straighteners

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