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I am not a fan of connecting at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). My carry-on bags have been subject to some of the most rigorous exams ever with even a Chapstick not fitting in a Ziploc bag causing issues and it ending up in the trash. The airport has finally completed one of the largest technology upgrades in its history and become the world’s largest airport to fully deploy next-generation CT security scanners. The £1 billion investment eliminates the need for travelers to remove liquids, laptops, and other electronics from bags at security checkpoints and significantly speeds up throughput across all four terminals.
The rollout also removes the long-standing 100ml liquids restriction for passengers departing the airport. Travelers can now carry liquids up to two liters in carry-on bags and pass through screening without sorting lotions into plastic bags or juggling devices in bins. Airport officials estimate the change could eliminate nearly 16 million single-use plastic bags per year.
The installation marks a defining moment in the airport’s multi-year modernization strategy. It’s designed to improve resilience, sharpen operational performance, and position the airport for future capacity growth. Last year, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) was named Europe’s most punctual hub airport and reported that more than 97% of passengers cleared security in under five minutes. Baggage handling also saw major gains with a 98% load rate that kept an additional 25 million bags with their owners compared to 2024.
Next-generation scanners allow security teams to generate highly detailed 3D imaging of cabin bags. This improves both detection capabilities and passenger flow. With less time spent unpacking, repacking, and sorting liquids the checkpoint has become the shortest part of the journey for many travelers.
The United Kingdom began easing liquid rules in 2024 as individual airports upgraded checkpoints, but Heathrow’s completion removes ambiguity and ensures a consistent experience for all travelers passing through the country’s main international gateway. The airport now sets the global benchmark for CT-enabled security deployment (even as other major hubs remain years or decades away from full adoption).
The change does not apply universally across global aviation and passengers connecting through airports still enforcing 100ml limits may need to comply with older screening rules. In the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has indicated that widespread CT deployment and any rule change around liquids is unlikely until the late 2030s.
For now, London Heathrow Airport delivers one of the rarest gifts in modern air travel: faster lines, less hassle, and a smoother start to the journey. I am now looking forward to heading back to the busy London airport.
(Image Credits: London Heathrow Airport.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
