Cabin baggage breakthrough

The end of the process of liquids and electrical items being carried in hand baggage having to be taken out for inspection could be in sight after the government last week ordered all major UK airports to install 3D security scanners by December 2022.

The technology is already under trial at Heathrow (BTN 29 October 2018), which is spending £50m on a full-scale roll-out of new biometric services including facial recognition at check-in, bag drops, security lanes and boarding gates.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said introducing the technology over the next three years “could mean in future passengers may be able to keep liquids and electrical equipment, like laptops, in their cabin baggage while it is screened”.

Restrictions on liquids in hand luggage at airports have been in place since November 2006 after a terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives on flights between the UK and North America was foiled.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said last week: “The new equipment will improve security and make the experience smoother and less stressful for passengers. It could also mean an end to passengers having to use plastic bags or rationing what they take away with them.”

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport

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jackie watkins, Cheltenham

Hooray! About time too.