LONDON — In a historic shift for global aviation, Heathrow Airport officially became the world’s largest hub to fully scrap the restrictive 100ml liquid rule on Friday, January 23, 2026. The completion of a massive £1 billion ($1.35 billion) technology overhaul across all four terminals means that for the first time since 2006, millions of passengers can pass through security with laptops and full-sized liquids remaining inside their hand luggage.
The milestone marks the end of a two-decade era of “security theater” that required travelers to decant toiletries into tiny plastic pouches and unpack electronics into multiple trays.
The Technology: 3D Precision Replacing 2D Guesswork
The core of this transformation is the deployment of next-generation Computed Tomography (CT) scanners. Unlike traditional X-ray machines that produced flat, two-dimensional images, the new units use advanced medical-grade technology to create a rotating 3D view of a bag’s contents.
- Enhanced Detection: Security officers can now digitally rotate and tilt the contents of a bag, allowing them to identify potential threats without requiring the physical separation of items.
- Explosive Recognition: The scanners are equipped with AI-driven algorithms capable of detecting the chemical signatures of liquid explosives, even when mixed with everyday cosmetics.
The New “Rules of the Road”
While the “100ml limit” is dead at Heathrow, travelers should note the specific new parameters of the “Two-Liter Rule”:
| Feature | New Rule (Heathrow) | Previous Rule (Pre-2026) |
| Liquid Container Size | Up to 2 Liters | Max 100ml per container |
| Laptops & Tablets | Stay in Bag | Must be removed |
| Plastic Bags | Scrapped | Required (1 per person) |
| Throughput | Faster (Thousands/hour) | High bottleneck potential |
Operational and Environmental Impact
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye hailed the rollout as a victory for both efficiency and sustainability. The airport estimates the change will save nearly 16 million single-use plastic bags annually.
Operationally, the upgrade is expected to drastically reduce the number of “secondary searches”—the manual bag checks that cause the majority of security queues. In 2025, even before the full rollout, Heathrow reported that 97% of passengers waited less than five minutes at security; that figure is expected to improve as the “unpacking” phase is eliminated entirely.
The “Return Journey” Warning
Despite the local success, travel experts are issuing a stern warning: The 100ml rule is not yet dead globally. While other UK hubs like Birmingham, Gatwick, and Edinburgh have completed their transitions, many international destinations—including major hubs in the United States and parts of Europe—still rely on older X-ray technology. If a passenger departs Heathrow with a 500ml bottle of shampoo, they may be forced to discard it during their return journey or at a connecting flight in a non-upgraded airport.
“The rollout across the UK has suffered setbacks,” noted Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership. “We advise passengers to be acutely aware of the rules at their destination airport, as they may differ significantly.”
London Heathrow, Terminal 5, London, England. Image by Warren Rohner
