London’s Heathrow joins global airports, revises 100ml liquid limit; know how India’s rules differ

London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, has scrapped the long-standing 100ml liquid limit for departing passengers, following a £1 billion technology upgrade across its four terminals. Travellers can now carry containers holding up to two litres, while laptops and other electronics no longer need to be removed from bags during security checks.

Smarter scanners for faster, hassle-free travel

The airport has installed advanced CT scanners capable of producing high-resolution 3D images of all luggage. Security staff can now identify potential threats without passengers unpacking, streamlining the screening process.

These new measures replace rules in place since 2006, introduced after a thwarted liquid explosives plot. Heathrow is now the largest airport in the world to deploy this technology across every terminal, allowing it to process thousands of passengers each hour with far greater efficiency.

Global trend and return journey caution

Heathrow joins other international hubs adopting similar systems, including New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong. In the UK, Gatwick, Birmingham, and Edinburgh have also raised their liquid limits to two litres.

However, passengers must note that the new rules currently apply only to departures from Heathrow. Travellers flying back to airports without upgraded scanners risk having larger containers confiscated. Experts advise checking return airport policies before travel.

Indian airports remain unchanged

Air travel regulations in India remain the same. Passengers flying within or from India must continue using containers of 100ml or less, all fitting in a single one-litre transparent bag. Laptops and tablets must still be removed from hand luggage for screening.

While Indian airports are modernising infrastructure, there are no official plans to introduce CT scanners on a wide scale. For now, travellers from Indian airports must continue packing and preparing bags according to traditional security procedures.