EU airport liquid rules continue to restrict most liquids in hand luggage to containers of no more than 100ml, despite the introduction of advanced security scanners designed to examine bags more thoroughly. The rules have become more complicated as European authorities work to approve newer screening technology, leaving passengers facing different procedures depending on the airport and the security checkpoint they use.
The confusion stems from an expectation that modern scanners would make the long-standing restriction unnecessary. Some airports introduced computed tomography (CT) scanners that produce detailed three-dimensional images of luggage, allowing security staff to examine its contents without removing liquids and electronic devices. At certain airports, the technology also enabled passengers to carry larger liquid containers. However, the European Union’s security requirements changed in September 2024, bringing the 100ml limit back to airports operating affected scanner systems.
The European Commission announced the temporary restrictions on 31 July 2024, explaining that the decision followed technical assessments of the equipment used to screen cabin baggage. The measure was precautionary and was not introduced in response to a new security threat. The issue concerned the performance of particular scanner configurations in detecting liquid explosives, rather than a decision to abandon the technology altogether.
The position has since evolved. In August 2025, the European Commission confirmed that one configuration of the newer C3 cabin-baggage screening systems had passed the revised approval process. Airports using that approved configuration could permit passengers to carry liquids, aerosols and gels in individual containers of up to two litres. Other configurations remained subject to testing and approval, meaning the relaxation would not automatically apply across the European Union. The decision on whether to introduce the larger allowance rests with individual airports, which must inform passengers of the rules in force at their facilities.
That distinction explains why reports announcing the end of the 100ml rule can be misleading. The European Union has not introduced a blanket exemption for every airport equipped with CT scanners. The technology’s presence alone does not establish that larger containers are permitted. What matters is whether the specific screening system has the necessary approval and whether the airport has implemented the corresponding procedures.
For passengers, the practical result is an uneven landscape. Some airports have restored the convenience of carrying larger bottles through security, while others continue to enforce the familiar 100ml restriction. Even within a large airport, different terminals or screening lanes may operate under different arrangements. Travellers should therefore consult the airport’s official security guidance before packing, rather than assume that a rule reported elsewhere in Europe also applies to their departure point.
The difference is especially relevant to people connecting between flights. A traveller who passes security at an airport allowing two-litre containers may encounter a stricter checkpoint at a connecting airport. Liquids that were accepted at the first airport may not meet the requirements at the next one, particularly if the passenger must pass through security again. The safest approach is to check the rules at every airport where another security screening may be required, including on the return journey.
Finland provides a useful example of why local instructions matter. Finavia’s published guidance continues to distinguish between Helsinki Airport’s departure security, its transfer security and the procedures at regional airports. At Helsinki’s departure checkpoints, passengers can generally leave liquids and electronic devices inside their bags, but the published liquid limit remains 100ml per container, with a total allowance of up to two litres per passenger. Transfer passengers and people departing from regional airports face different instructions, including the requirement to use a transparent, resealable one-litre bag at applicable checkpoints.
The 100ml rule itself is straightforward. Unless an airport explicitly permits larger containers, each liquid container in hand luggage must have a capacity of no more than 100ml. The containers must generally fit inside one transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum capacity of one litre. A bottle that holds 200ml does not become acceptable simply because it contains only a small amount of liquid. Security staff assess the container’s capacity, not just how full it is.
The definition of liquids is broader than water, juice or other drinks. It includes toiletries and everyday products such as shampoo, perfume, toothpaste, creams, lotions, gels, aerosols and shaving foam. Certain foods, including soups, syrups and other products with a similar consistency, can also fall under the restrictions. When in doubt, travellers should check the airport’s list of permitted items rather than assume a product is exempt because it is sold as a cosmetic or food item.
There are established exceptions. Essential medicines and liquids needed for special dietary requirements may be carried in quantities greater than 100ml when required for the journey. Baby food and milk are also covered by exemptions. Passengers may be asked to demonstrate that the products are needed, so keeping medicines accessible and carrying supporting documentation where appropriate can help avoid delays.
Duty-free purchases are treated differently, too. Liquids bought at an eligible airport shop or on board an aircraft may be carried in hand luggage when they are packed in the required sealed security bag, with proof of purchase inside. Travellers making connections should leave the bag sealed and follow the instructions at the next security checkpoint. Opening it before completing the journey can create problems at a subsequent screening.
For anyone hoping to benefit from the newer scanners, checking the airport’s current instructions is more useful than buying special travel bottles or repacking every product in advance. Where the two-litre allowance is officially in force, the airport may also permit liquids and electronic devices to remain inside hand luggage during screening. Where it is not, the standard restrictions continue to apply. Airport procedures can also be affected by the route or type of screening, so travellers should follow the instructions issued for their particular departure.
The wider lesson is that airport technology and passenger rules do not necessarily change at the same pace. CT scanners can produce more detailed images and improve the way security staff examine baggage, but their introduction does not by itself remove regulatory restrictions. The EU’s approach has been to assess specific equipment configurations before allowing airports to relax the limits, rather than assume all systems perform identically.
For now, passengers should treat the 100ml limit as the default for travel through EU airports unless their departure airport clearly confirms that larger containers are allowed. Checking the rules before leaving home remains the simplest way to avoid having toiletries confiscated, repacking at the checkpoint or spending extra time in a security queue. The prospect of carrying larger bottles is no longer merely theoretical, but the change remains dependent on where, and under which screening arrangements, a passenger travels.
