Frequent flyers using Zurich Airport will soon be able to leave shampoo bottles and laptops in their hand-luggage. Airport operator Flughafen Zürich AG confirmed on 8 December that 26 next-generation computed-tomography (CT) scanners are being installed across all departure checkpoints. Three lanes went live this week, creating 30-minute queues while staff complete training, but management says the temporary slowdown will translate into a 30-40 percent throughput gain once all lanes are upgraded.
The CT technology generates 3-D images that allow explosives to be detected inside cluttered bags, meaning security officers no longer need passengers to remove liquids or electronic devices. The change places Switzerland ahead of most Schengen partners and in line with London City and Amsterdam Schiphol, which have already lifted the 100-millilitre liquid cap.
![Zurich Airport to Scrap 100-ml Liquid Rule as CT Scanners Roll Out]()
Airport authorities plan a staggered roll-out: eight additional machines arrive in January and the full fleet should be operational by May 2026—just in time for the busy summer season. The 100-ml restriction will formally disappear when Zurich amends its airport ordinance next June; a public-information campaign will begin in spring to avoid confusion. Geneva and Basel airports have launched separate tenders and are expected to follow Zurich’s lead in 2027.
For corporate travel managers the upgrade removes one of the biggest friction points on Swiss itineraries. Executive commuters stand to save five-to-ten minutes per screening, while airlines hope faster security will help them turn aircraft more quickly and cut EU-261 compensation payouts linked to missed connections. In a hub that handles more than 30 million passengers a year, even marginal efficiency gains can unlock additional peak-hour slots—welcome news for companies flying staff to Zurich’s growing life-sciences and fintech clusters.
The CT technology generates 3-D images that allow explosives to be detected inside cluttered bags, meaning security officers no longer need passengers to remove liquids or electronic devices. The change places Switzerland ahead of most Schengen partners and in line with London City and Amsterdam Schiphol, which have already lifted the 100-millilitre liquid cap.
Airport authorities plan a staggered roll-out: eight additional machines arrive in January and the full fleet should be operational by May 2026—just in time for the busy summer season. The 100-ml restriction will formally disappear when Zurich amends its airport ordinance next June; a public-information campaign will begin in spring to avoid confusion. Geneva and Basel airports have launched separate tenders and are expected to follow Zurich’s lead in 2027.
For corporate travel managers the upgrade removes one of the biggest friction points on Swiss itineraries. Executive commuters stand to save five-to-ten minutes per screening, while airlines hope faster security will help them turn aircraft more quickly and cut EU-261 compensation payouts linked to missed connections. In a hub that handles more than 30 million passengers a year, even marginal efficiency gains can unlock additional peak-hour slots—welcome news for companies flying staff to Zurich’s growing life-sciences and fintech clusters.
