Airport CT scanners 2026 — where the 2L liquid rule applies now

Airport CT scanners and the 2L liquid rule: where it applies in 2026

Last updated July 23, 2026

Short answer

CT (computed tomography) scanners let some airports allow containers up to 2 litres in hand luggage. The container limit, the clear-bag requirement and whether liquids must come out are separate rules — a 2L allowance does not automatically waive the bag, so check each for your departure airport, terminal and destination. In 2026 the rollout is uneven: several UK airports (LGW, LHR T2–T5, BRS) allow 2L containers today; others (MAN, LTN, STN, GLA) keep 100ml. Edinburgh's (EDI) official page says up to 2L per container and liquids stay in your bag, but the clear-bag rule is not stated. Check the current Edinburgh airport page before using larger containers; pack to 100ml if its status is unverified or your other departure/transfer airport has a 100ml limit. Bring a clear resealable bag if the bag rule is not confirmed. Most EU hubs still enforce 100ml. The rule can also revert — always check on the day.

General guidance

Rule basis: General airport security guidance — rules can vary between airports and change over time. Confirm with your departure airport before you fly.

What to do: Pack to 100ml per container in one clear bag (up to 1 litre in the UK/EU; quart-sized at US airports) unless you've confirmed a larger allowance at both your departure airports.

Liquid Limits is a travel planning tool, not an official aviation source. Always confirm with the airport before you travel.

What a CT scanner changes

Standard 2D X-ray machines can't reliably see through liquid containers larger than 100ml, which is why the 100ml rule exists. CT scanners build a 3D image that lets screeners see what's inside larger bottles. Having CT scanners alone is not enough: the container limit, the clear-bag requirement and whether liquids must be removed are separate rules that can differ by airport, terminal and destination. A 2L container allowance does not automatically mean the bag is waived — check each rule for your departure airport and terminal.

Even at 2L airports, the UK and EU regulators have reverted airports to 100ml at short notice when they need to. Always pack a 100ml decant kit as a fallback.

UK airports — 2026 status

Airport	IATA	Current rule	Notes
London Gatwick	LGW	2L allowed	CT scanners across both terminals
Edinburgh	EDI	Official guidance: up to 2L; check current status	Clear-bag rule not stated; bring one to be safe
Birmingham	BHX	2L allowed	CT scanners across all lanes
Bristol	BRS	2L allowed	CT scanners across all lanes
Belfast International	BFS	2L allowed	CT scanners across all lanes
Aberdeen	ABZ	100ml (pending)	2L status not confirmed by the airport — pack to 100ml
London Luton	LTN	100ml	No plastic bag needed; liquids stay in your bag
London Heathrow	LHR	Up to 2L per container (T2–T5)	Not on flights to Australia (100ml); metal/insulated bottles must be empty
Manchester	MAN	100ml	No plastic bag needed; liquids stay in your bag
London Stansted	STN	100ml	Liquids stay in your bag at screening

EU and worldwide — 2026 status

Airport	IATA	Current rule
Amsterdam Schiphol	AMS	100ml
Paris Charles de Gaulle	CDG	100ml
Frankfurt	FRA	Mixed: CT at most T1 and all T3 checkpoints; C1/C2/C4/C6, special T1 and transfer checks keep 100ml — pack to 100ml
Madrid Barajas	MAD	100ml
Rome Fiumicino	FCO	Up to 2L per container, except USA/Israel flights from T1 (100ml)
Dublin	DUB	Up to 2L per container, both terminals, incl. connecting checks; no clear bag
Shannon	SNN	Under review: 7 Sep 2026 announcement describes up to 2L per container (clear-bag rule not stated) — pack 100ml until confirmed
Milan Linate	LIN	Up to 2L per container (ENAC, Aug 2025)
Milan Malpensa	MXP	Mixed: up to 2L at T1; 100ml in a bag at T2 except Fast Track (ENAC)
Helsinki-Vantaa	HEL	100ml per container, up to 2L total per passenger on departure; no separate bag (transfer security: 100ml in a 1-litre bag)
Zurich	ZRH	100ml

How to travel through a CT-scanner airport

Check separately whether liquids may stay in your bag — follow signage and staff at the lane
Check whether a clear bag is still required; a 2L allowance does not automatically waive it, so carry one if unconfirmed
Check the container limit for your departure airport and terminal — and any connection or destination screening; don't assume there is no total-volume limit
Duty-free rules are unchanged — tamper-evident bags still required for onward connections
If the airport reverts to 100ml, staff will tell you at the lane — no advance notice is guaranteed

What if I'm connecting?

Your outbound airport's rule sets what you can carry through security once. If your connecting airport still uses 100ml, any bottles over 100ml you're carrying from the first airport may be confiscated at the transfer screening. Either drink or bin them before transferring, or pack them in checked baggage.

FAQs

Which airports have CT scanners in 2026?

In the UK, LGW, Heathrow (T2–T5, not flights to Australia), BHX, BRS and BFS currently allow containers up to 2L; Manchester, Luton, Stansted and Glasgow keep 100ml. Edinburgh's (EDI) official page says up to 2L per container and liquids stay in your bag, but the clear-bag rule is not stated. Check the current Edinburgh airport page before using larger containers; pack to 100ml if its status is unverified or your other departure/transfer airport has a 100ml limit. Bring a clear resealable bag if the bag rule is not confirmed. Elsewhere, Dublin (DUB, per container), Rome Fiumicino (FCO, except USA/Israel flights from T1), Milan Linate (LIN) and Malpensa Terminal 1 (MXP) allow larger containers. Helsinki (HEL) keeps 100ml containers (up to 2 litres in total per passenger on departure, no separate bag). Shannon (SNN) announced a 2L-per-container change on 7 September 2026 that is still under review here — pack to 100ml there until confirmed. Most other EU hubs remain on 100ml.

Can I take 2 litres of liquid through any UK airport in 2026?

No. Check the rule for your airport, terminal and destination — some UK airports retain 100ml. Pack to 100ml wherever a larger allowance isn't confirmed.

Is the 100ml liquid rule ending in 2026?

There's no single end date. It ends airport-by-airport as CT scanners are installed and regulators sign off. Some airports have gone 2L, then reverted to 100ml at short notice.

Do I still need a clear bag at CT scanner airports?

Not automatically. The container limit, the bag requirement and whether liquids must come out are separate rules — a 2L allowance does not by itself mean the bag is waived. Check your departure airport and terminal (and any connection or destination screening) for each one, and carry a clear bag if it isn't confirmed.

What happens on a connection through a 100ml airport?

Your transfer airport's rule applies at its security lane. Bottles over 100ml carried from a 2L origin airport may be confiscated when you connect through a 100ml airport.

Check your trip