Hand baggage restrictions on liquid containers over 100 millilitres have already been lifted at some European airports underneath new EU laws, however when will it occur in Spain?
The 100ml liquid rule has been in pressure since 2006, when British authorities foiled a terrorist plot the place liquid explosives had been hidden in a drink.
The restriction applies to liquids comparable to drinks, but in addition gels, pastes, lotions, lotions and different beauty merchandise.
The rule means that you would be able to solely take liquid containers of as much as 100ml of every merchandise in your hand baggage, sometimes carried in a small clear plastic bag for airport safety to test simply.
Nonetheless, a number of years in the past quite a few nations all over the world (in addition to the EU and Spain) introduced they might scrap the 100ml liquid restriction, because of the introduction of latest expertise.
New superior computed tomography (CT) scanners can now precisely detect the whole lot in larger element inside your bag, and plans had been in place to roll them out to airports internationally.
In consequence, the restrict was due to be scrapped in summer 2024, however the European Fee delayed it, and the ruling was in the end saved in place.
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Some airports even briefly trialled the brand new scanners and lifted restrictions in the summertime of 2024, comparable to London Metropolis, Southend and Newcastle within the UK, however then determined to maintain the rule in place.
Presently, airports geared up with the expertise within the EU embody main hubs comparable to Milan, Rome, Berlin and Amsterdam, the place you’ll be able to journey from with liquids larger than 100ml. Within the UK, solely Birmingham and Edinburgh airports have scrapped the 100ml rule to date.
READ ALSO: Five major Italian airports scrap 100ml liquid limit for hand baggage
So, what about Spain?
Spain’s state-owned airport operator Aena has mentioned that many of those 3D scanners have already been put in at airports within the nation, however they’re not but totally operational.
“The European Fee has not too long ago authorised using state-of-the-art scanners at European airports,” Aena instructed information website El Confidencial Digital.
Nonetheless, they confirmed that Aena-run airports will keep the restriction on liquids till the deployment is full and “the suitable situations exist for its implementation with out affecting operations”.
Moreover, the rise in air visitors through the busy summer season season implies that Aena deems it too dangerous to partially elevate the 100ml rule at some airports with out producing confusion amongst passengers, and such a tender launch would inevitably result in holdups at a time once they can’t afford operations to run slowly.
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So we don’t know precisely when the scanners can be in operation in Spain and when the rule can be scrapped, though the impression is that Aena will wait till the measure is extra widespread throughout Europe and when journey has slowed down barely in Spain (if that’s ever the case anymore).
What we do know is which Spanish airports will drop the regulation first.
Palma de Mallorca, Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El-Prat are set to be the primary Spanish airports the place you’ll be capable to journey with liquids which are greater than 100ml in your hand baggage, that means you could possibly lastly be capable to take your favorite bottle of Spanish wine or olive oil with you again dwelling or to take to family and friends.
Palma de Mallorca Airport already has 18 inspection lanes geared up with these methods, which was a part of an enormous renovation ongoing since 2023.
Madrid airport has put in state-of-the-art 3D X-ray scanners in its 4 terminals that detect explosives with nice precision.
Already this summer season, passengers at Barajas Airport now not needed to take away liquids or digital units from their baggage at safety checkpoints, despite the fact that the 100ml rule was nonetheless in place.
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Aena hopes to roll out the expertise subsequent to airports in Málaga, Gran Canaria, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Menorca, Bilbao, Alicante-Elche, Valencia and Ibiza. These airports all have excessive passenger visitors and so have been given precedence.
The scanners are anticipated to be rolled out totally in 2026 as a part of a €1.17 billion funding plan to modernise safety throughout the whole community, which is able to final till 2028.
Aena has additionally hinted that the present 100-millilitre restrictions will stay in place and won’t be lifted till all high-volume airports have the brand new expertise, that means that passengers in Spain should still want to attend a 12 months.
“Any adjustments can be made as soon as the suitable situations for his or her implementation are in place” they state.
