Heathrow Airport has joined a small but growing group of UK hubs that have fully deployed next-generation computed-tomography (CT) security scanners, ending the 100-millilitre liquid limit for every departing passenger.
The £1 billion programme, finished on 26 January 2026, involved replacing all security lanes in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 with high-resolution CT machines that produce 3-D images of cabin bags. Security officers can now rotate and ‘slice’ the images, allowing them to spot explosives and other threats without requiring travellers to separate liquids and large electronic devices. Passengers may now leave laptops in their hand-luggage and carry containers of liquids and gels up to two litres—20 times the previous allowance.
Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said the scanners will “save almost 16 million plastic bags a year” and reduce queue times, a perennial complaint of business travellers connecting through the UK’s busiest global hub. Airlines and retailers inside the terminals also expect higher customer-dwell times once the security pinch-point eases.
![Heathrow scraps 100-ml liquid rule after completing £1 billion CT-scanner upgrade]()
The rollout brings Heathrow into compliance with the Department for Transport’s mandate that large airports install CT technology; it missed the original June 2024 deadline but becomes the world’s biggest airport to complete a full-site conversion. Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick and Edinburgh made the switch in 2025, and several regional airports plan to finish this year. Travellers are reminded, however, that the relaxed rules may not apply on their return legs from airports overseas where CT equipment has not yet been installed.
Before taking advantage of Heathrow’s faster lanes, passengers might also want to double-check their entry documents. VisaHQ’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets travellers verify visa requirements, submit applications online and track approvals in real time, ensuring that time saved at security isn’t lost at immigration.
For global-mobility and travel-programme managers, the change means revising pre-trip briefings: staff passing through Heathrow can save time by leaving toiletries and laptops inside hand baggage, but they should still carry the traditional 100-ml bags when returning through airports that have not upgraded. Companies may also consider updating ‘what-to-pack’ guidance for assignees and frequent flyers to reflect the new rules.
The £1 billion programme, finished on 26 January 2026, involved replacing all security lanes in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 with high-resolution CT machines that produce 3-D images of cabin bags. Security officers can now rotate and ‘slice’ the images, allowing them to spot explosives and other threats without requiring travellers to separate liquids and large electronic devices. Passengers may now leave laptops in their hand-luggage and carry containers of liquids and gels up to two litres—20 times the previous allowance.
Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s chief executive, said the scanners will “save almost 16 million plastic bags a year” and reduce queue times, a perennial complaint of business travellers connecting through the UK’s busiest global hub. Airlines and retailers inside the terminals also expect higher customer-dwell times once the security pinch-point eases.
The rollout brings Heathrow into compliance with the Department for Transport’s mandate that large airports install CT technology; it missed the original June 2024 deadline but becomes the world’s biggest airport to complete a full-site conversion. Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick and Edinburgh made the switch in 2025, and several regional airports plan to finish this year. Travellers are reminded, however, that the relaxed rules may not apply on their return legs from airports overseas where CT equipment has not yet been installed.
Before taking advantage of Heathrow’s faster lanes, passengers might also want to double-check their entry documents. VisaHQ’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets travellers verify visa requirements, submit applications online and track approvals in real time, ensuring that time saved at security isn’t lost at immigration.
For global-mobility and travel-programme managers, the change means revising pre-trip briefings: staff passing through Heathrow can save time by leaving toiletries and laptops inside hand baggage, but they should still carry the traditional 100-ml bags when returning through airports that have not upgraded. Companies may also consider updating ‘what-to-pack’ guidance for assignees and frequent flyers to reflect the new rules.
