Most English airports are going to miss the 2022 Westminster government mandate to install new scanners and eliminate the “100ml” limit for liquids by June 2024.
London City Airport met the requirement a year prior, with Luton and Birmingham making progress towards compliance.
The four major English airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Manchester, are not expected to be prepared to meet the June 2024 deadline. An extension has been granted by the Westminster government.
The Westminster Department for Transport granted extensions of up to a year on a case-by-case basis for airports to install new security equipment, with plans to implement financial penalties for airports that miss deadlines under the Aviation Security Act.
Busy airports, facing logistical challenges, have been delayed in installing heavy security equipment, including Birmingham Airport building a new security screening hall and British Airways closing its First Wing security lane at Heathrow.
Challenges such as construction and supply chain issues due to the pandemic have contributed to airports not meeting the original June deadline for new security equipment installation.
The implementation of new scanners and the removal of the liquid limit aim to enhance airport security measures regarding liquids carried by passengers.
