Regional revolution: Small airports at the forefront of next-gen security screening upgrades
July 15, 2025
Wider rollout of advanced CT scanners in UK airports allows passengers to leave liquids and laptops in their hand baggage.
Regional airports across the UK are emerging as leaders in the deployment of next-generation screening technology.
One of the latest airports to unveil advanced Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray screening technology is Cornwall Airport Newquay in Southwest England. Its next-generation security facilities allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their cabin baggage. This investment aligns with the Department for Transport (DfT’s) ruling to modernise airport security and phase out the long-standing 100ml liquid rule.
Why was the 100ml rule introduced?
The 100ml rule was introduced in 2006, following a foiled terror plot at Heathrow Airport, involving liquid explosives disguised as drinks. A 100ml liquid limit was deemed sufficiently low volume to avoid an on-board threat.
The ruling stipulated that passengers can only take liquids and creams in containers of up to 100ml on board an aircraft. Liquids must be placed in a single, transparent plastic bag, which holds no more than one litre and can be sealed.
Introduced initially as a short-term temporary measure while airport technology was improved, technological progress with security screening equipment has however been painfully slow.
Why is the rule now being relaxed?
The evolution of more advanced CT scanners means that security staff are able to see a more detailed look at passengers’ luggage during security screening. The equipment also enables passengers to leave electronics in their bag while being scanned. According to Smiths Detection, this is due to explosives detection algorithms and automated object recognition.
The UK government first announced in 2022 that all major airports in the country would need to install high-tech security scanners by June 2024 in a bid to do away with the 100ml rule.
The DfT’s move to relax the “liquid and laptop” limit has been welcomed by passengers and airports alike. For the best part of the last two decades, security screening has been a major pinch point as travellers grapple with stuffing 100ml liquid toiletries into clear plastic bags, gulp down their water and remove laptops and tablets from their hand luggage.
Regional airports leading the rollout
While many of the UK’s larger airports faced logistical, supply chain and investment challenges, in meeting the June 2024 deadline – and were subsequently granted extensions – several regional airports ploughed ahead with deploying new security screening facilities on schedule.
Cornwall Airport Newquay is one of multiple regional airports championing this shift. Other UK airports deploying next-gen CT scanners include Leeds Bradford, London City, Aberdeen, Southend, Farnborough, Edinburgh, Teesside, Birmingham, Southampton and Bristol.
Cornwall’s new system can process up to 500 passengers per hour, significantly improving throughput and the overall passenger experience.
Responding to temporary setbacks
Although the DfT was forced to reinstate the 100ml liquid limit at the original June 2024 deadline due to an undisclosed issue with the security screening technology, this matter has since been resolved. Airports have resumed deploying the new technology at pace, with the DfT expected to approve lifting the overall liquid limit to 2 litres at participating airports in due course. Cornwall Airport Newquay’s new systems are already configured to support this change.
Amy Smith, Managing Director at Cornwall Airport Newquay described the deployment of the new equipment as “not just a new scanner – it’s a new standard,” as she underlined it’s an “investment in the future of regional air travel.”
She also noted that “faster, smarter security is just the beginning – this upgrade helps unlock streamlined travel for local businesses, strengthens ties to key UK and European markets, and makes it even easier for visitors to experience everything Cornwall has to offer.”
Wider industry changes
Major UK hubs, including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester have also adopted the new screening technology, or are in the process of doing so, with their staggered timelines attributed to infrastructure constraints.
While the UK is the first country to make a blanket change on its liquid limit during security screening, other countries including Spain are expected to follow suit. Other airports across Europe, including Amsterdam Schiphol in the Netherlands, Frankfurt in Germany and Milan Malpensa in Italy have also adopted advanced screening technology.
In the US many airports have also installed the new scanners. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also mandated that airports nationwide must adopt advanced Explosive Detection Screening Equipment (EDSE) by April 2026.
New solutions currently being trialled and evaluated, such as HEXWAVE – a commercialised walkthrough screening system that uses microwave imaging technology. This solution could eventually allow walkthrough security screening without passengers needing to remove items from their bags, thus heralding further transformation of the passenger journey.
