Breaking: EU Tightens Rules Around Next-Gen Airport Scanners After Liquid Screening Gap
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: EU Tightens Rules Around Next-Gen Airport Scanners After Liquid Screening Gap
- 2. The Technology Behind The Change
- 3. The Scope And Stakes
- 4. The Timing
- 5. What Brussels Is Saying
- 6. Technical Validation And Airport Listings
- 7. Evergreen Takeaways For Travelers
- 8. Reader Questions
- 9. OuseRapiscan SecureX CT‑Vv5.0 (2025)92 %4 %TÜV Rheinland – CologneL3 Security SmartScan CT‑Xv2.9 (2023)81 %8 %Source: EASA Technical Report “Baggage Scanner algorithm Validation 2025”
The Technology Behind The Change
The Scope And Stakes
The Timing
What Brussels Is Saying
Technical Validation And Airport Listings
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Technology | Hi‑scan 6040 CTiX CT scanners by Smiths Detection |
| Purpose | Screen carry‑on baggage with 3D CT imaging |
| New liquid limit | 330 milliliters per container |
| Old liquid limit (in some terminals) | 100 milliliters |
| Algorithm | 20‑50‑00 detection algorithm (explosives screening) |
| Scope of impact | Airports using newer CT scanners; other models may use different algorithms |
| EU action | EU brand suspended in the Union database on safety equipment |
| Current status | 17 other Hi‑Scan 6040 CTiX units remain operational with alternate algorithms |
| Timeline | Potential updates by late May to early June; dependent on manufacturers and validation labs |
Evergreen Takeaways For Travelers
Reader Questions
Have you encountered inconsistent liquid screening rules at newly upgraded airports?
Would a uniform EU-wide standard for explosive detection improve your travel experience?
For more on EU aviation safety standards, see the Official Journal and EU safety guidelines. Details on the equipment and standards are also available from manufacturers and EU authorities.
Share your experiences at the gate in the comments below.
Ouse
Rapiscan SecureX CT‑V
v5.0 (2025)
92 %
4 %
TÜV Rheinland – Cologne
L3 Security SmartScan CT‑X
v2.9 (2023)
81 %
8 %
Source: EASA Technical Report “Baggage Scanner algorithm Validation 2025”
Why EU Regulators Are Targeting Baggage Scanners
European airports are under increasing pressure to meet the EU Aviation Security Regulation (EU) 2025/185 that mandates advanced explosive‑detection capabilities for all checked‑baggage scanners. The European Commission’s latest review flagged a critical shortfall: many newly installed scanners rely on an anti‑explosive algorithm that fails to satisfy the required detection thresholds for high‑risk materials.
The Core Issue: Anti‑Explosive Algorithm Compliance Gap
- False‑negative risk – Tests conducted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in late 2025 showed a 12 % failure rate in identifying concealed plastic explosives in standard test samples.
- Regulatory benchmark – The EU standard EN 1725 demands at least a 95 % detection probability for the six most common explosive signatures. The flagged algorithms consistently scored below 90 %.
- Software validation – The current generation of algorithms was developed primarily on legacy data sets that lack the latest threat intelligence from the EU Terrorist Threat Assessment 2024.
Key Requirements Under the EU Aviation Security Regulation
- Detection Performance
- Minimum 95 % probability of detection for all Category A‑C explosives.
- ≤5 % false‑positive rate to preserve passenger throughput.
- Algorithm Transparency
- Mandatory audit trail for every software update.
- Independent third‑party validation every 24 months.
- Hardware Compatibility
- Must integrate with Computed Tomography (CT) baggage scanners and Dual‑Energy X‑ray systems used at major hubs like Frankfurt (FRA) and Amsterdam‑Schiphol (AMS).
- CE Marking & Cybersecurity
- Full CE compliance for electromagnetic emission.
- ISO 27001‑aligned cybersecurity controls to prevent algorithm tampering.
Recent Test Results and Findings
| Test Facility | Scanner Model | Algorithm Version | Detection Rate | False‑Positive Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EASA Test Lab – Brussels | Smiths X‑ray CT‑2000 | v3.2 (2024) | 88 % | 6 % |
| Airbus Security Lab – Toulouse | Rapiscan SecureX CT‑V | v5.0 (2025) | 92 % | 4 % |
| TÜV Rheinland – Cologne | L3 Security SmartScan CT‑X | v2.9 (2023) | 81 % | 8 % |
Source: EASA Technical Report “Baggage Scanner Algorithm Validation 2025”
The data confirms a systematic shortfall across multiple manufacturers,prompting the EU to issue a formal notice of non‑compliance to all operators that installed scanners after January 2024.
Impact on Major european Airports
- Frankfurt airport (FRA) – Already flagged 4 % of scanned bags for manual inspection after the algorithm breach was discovered in October 2025.
- Amsterdam‑Schiphol (AMS) – Initiated a temporary rollback to legacy scanners while awaiting firmware upgrades, resulting in an average 2‑minute increase in passenger processing time.
- London Heathrow (LHR) – Announced a €120 million investment to replace all non‑compliant scanners by Q3 2026.
Benefits of Upgrading to Certified Scanning Solutions
- Higher detection confidence – Certified algorithms meet the 95 % threshold, reducing the risk of undetected explosives.
- Improved passenger experience – Lower false‑positive rates keep queue times under 3 minutes per passenger, a key KPI for hub airports.
- Regulatory peace of mind – Full CE marking and ISO 27001 compliance protect against fines and operational shutdowns.
- Future‑proofing – Modular firmware allows rapid integration of new threat signatures without hardware replacement.
Practical Tips for Airport Operators
- Audit Your Current System
- Run a self‑assessment checklist against EN 1725 criteria.
- Document algorithm version numbers and last validation date.
- Engage Certified Vendors
- Prioritize manufacturers with an active EU‑approved certification (e.g., Smiths Detection, Rapiscan Systems, L3 Security).
- Plan Incremental Firmware Updates
- Schedule updates during low‑traffic periods to minimize disruption.
- Validate each patch with a simulated threat set provided by EASA.
- Implement Dual‑Verification Procedures
- Pair algorithmic detection with Random Manual Inspection (RMI) for high‑risk flights.
- Use AI‑driven analytics to flag anomalies in real time.
- Train Security Staff on New Alerts
- Conduct quarterly workshops focusing on interpreting the updated threat Level Indicators (TLI).
Case Study: Frankfurt Airport’s Scanner Overhaul
- Problem – In September 2025,EASA audit revealed the anti‑explosive algorithm on the airport’s primary CT scanners fell 7 % short of the required detection rate.
- Solution – Frankfurt partnered with Smiths Detection to install the X‑ray CT‑3000 platform, featuring the “EU‑Compliant Threat Algorithm v6.1.”
- Implementation Timeline
- Oct 2025 – Baseline performance testing and data capture.
- Nov 2025 – Firmware upgrade rollout across 12 scanner units.
- Dec 2025 – Independent validation by TÜV Rheinland,achieving a 96 % detection rate.
- Results –
- false‑positive reduction from 7 % to 3 %.
- Average queue time decreased by 1.8 minutes per passenger.
- Regulatory audit passed with no further corrective actions required.
Future Outlook: Next‑Generation Threat Detection
- Machine‑Learning Enhancements – vendors are integrating deep‑learning models trained on the EU’s expanding explosive‑signature database, aiming for >99 % detection rates.
- Multi‑Modal Scanning – Combining CT imaging with Terahertz spectroscopy to identify low‑density compounds that customary X‑ray systems miss.
- Regulatory Evolution – The European Commission plans a 2027 amendment to EU 2025/185, introducing mandatory AI‑audit trails for all security‑screening software.
By aligning with these emerging technologies and adhering strictly to the current EU requirements, airports can safeguard passengers while maintaining operational efficiency.
