Hopes that approval of new high-tech security scanners for use at airports will end the UK’s one cabin bag rule may be dashed because the scanners are in short supply.
A trial at one of Heathrow’s flight transfer centres, revealed exclusively by Travel Weekly in July, is expected to result in Department of Transport approval for their introduction by November.
But figures revealed this week suggest airport operator BAA will only have enough scanners for one in three security channels.
BAA, which operates Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, has ordered 63 of the aTiX hand luggage scanners.
Its best hope is to have 50 installed by November, because of competing orders from airports outside the UK, but it requires 150.