Analysis: Full relaxation of liquid rules ‘not until 2040’

Air passengers should not expect full relaxation of restrictions on liquids in hand luggage until 2040 despite several UK airports announcing passengers may keep liquids in cabin bags at security this summer, with the revelation coming amid confirmation of a new EU entry process and forthcoming hike in costs.

 

Edinburgh became the latest airport this month to announce the installation of state-of-the-art security scanners costing £24 million allowing passengers to leave liquids and electrical items in cabin bags, although liquids remain restricted in size to 100mls or less.

 

But the US Transportation Security Administration recently warned that passengers should not expect “any changes to current liquids policy until 2040 when it expects to have fully deployed CT units across the country”, describing removal of the restrictions as a “distant possibility”.

 

It also warned US air passengers that the announcement of changed liquids and luggage restrictions in Europe “may pose additional challenges”.

 

The EU finally confirmed the introduction of its delayed EU Entry[1]Exit System (EES) from October 12 and its implementation over the following six months, with the system to be fully in operation from April 10.

 

Non-EU citizens, including from the UK, will need to provide fingerprints and facial biometric data at their first time of crossing the EU border to register on the system, although children under 12 will be excluded from registering fingerprints.

 

Industry leaders welcomed the “clarity” brought by the announcement following months of uncertainty, with the system having been scheduled to launch for a ‘big bang’ last November but postponed due to fears the technology was insufficiently robust and untested.

 

The EC also confirmed introduction of its European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) between October and December 2026, but at a fee of €20 (£17) – almost three times the €7 (£6) previously proposed.

 

The EC blamed the increase on inflation and increased costs, noting other countries charged more than €7 for entry. Industry leaders expressed anger at the increased Etias fee, describing it as  disproportionate”.

 

European tourism association Etoa joined Airlines for Europe (A4E), European agents’ and operators’ association Ectaa, hotel association Hotrec and other bodies in demanding a detailed cost breakdown and impact assessment, urging rejection of the increase and demanding “any surplus be assigned to a specific budget or earmarked for travel and tourism”.

 

At the same time, A4E warned an EC proposal for a standard cabin bag size of 40cm × 30cm × 15cm would result in “higher costs for passengers”, suggesting: “What next? Mandatory popcorn as part of your cinema ticket?”

 

Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary declared an additional proposal to allow all passengers two free cabin bags “unimplementable”, while Iata accused MEPs of “meddling in issues they don’t understand”.