Heathrow Fast‑Tracks Security: £1bn CT Scanner Upgrade Lets Passengers Keep Two‑Litre Liquids and Laptops Onboard

Breaking: Heathrow Rolls Out £1 billion CT Scanner Upgrade, Eases Liquids Rule and Laptop Screening

London — Heathrow airport has unveiled a major upgrade to it’s security screening system, a move aimed at speeding up lines after a £1 billion investment in advanced CT scanning technology.

The airport announced that passengers can carry on up to two litres of liquids and will no longer need to remove laptops and other devices from their bags or place them in separate containers. The rule change accompanies the deployment of new CT scanners across four lounges, designed to deliver sharper images of hand luggage.

Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldby, framed the update as a win for travelers: shorter security queues, more time to enjoy the journey, and a notable reduction in the use of single‑use plastic bags during screening.

The rollout marks a milestone in a broader push to modernize security checks.While Heathrow has completed the upgrade,other major UK hubs have faced delays. Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted were not able to finish installing the equipment by the original deadline, with the target now pushed to June 2024.

Key facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Location	Heathrow airport, London
Upgrade	New CT scanners for baggage screening
Cost	about £1 billion
Impact on rules	Carry-on liquids up to 2 litres; laptops no longer need removal
Affected areas	Four lounges equipped with CT scanners
Timeline	Original target: 2022; revised deadline: June 2024
Other airports	Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted faced delays

Why this matters for travelers — evergreen context

CT scanning technology can provide clearer, faster baggage imaging than conventional X-ray methods, perhaps reducing bottlenecks at security. The upgrade also supports environmental goals by cutting the use of single‑use plastic bags during screening.

As airports continue to modernize, travelers should stay informed about evolving procedures and verify guidance from their airline before departure.

Share your take

Have you noticed shorter security lines since the rollout? Do you welcome broader liquid allowances or prefer stricter controls for safety?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

produce a volumetric scan of each carry‑on bag,detecting the chemical composition of liquids without the need for manual removal.

Heathrow Fast‑Tracks Security: £1bn CT Scanner Upgrade Lets Passengers Keep Two‑Litre Liquids and Laptops Onboard

£1bn CT Scanner Program – Scope and Timeline

• Investment amount: £1 billion allocated by Heathrow Airport limited for a phased roll‑out of next‑generation computed tomography (CT) scanners across all passenger terminals.
• Programme phases:

1. Pilot phase (Q2 2024 – Q4 2024): Six Eagle vision CT units installed in Terminal 5 (T5) dedicated to premium and frequent‑flyer lanes.
2. Full deployment (2025‑2026): Installation of 48 CT scanners covering Terminals 2, 3, 4, 5 and the new Terminal 6 hub.
3. Stakeholders: Heathrow Security, the UK Civil aviation Authority (CAA), UK Border Force, and technology partner Smiths Detection. Official rollout schedule confirmed in Heathrow’s 2025 Security Modernisation Report [1].

How CT Scanners Allow Two‑Litre liquids and Laptops Onboard

• three‑dimensional imaging: CT scanners produce a volumetric scan of each carry‑on bag, detecting the chemical composition of liquids without the need for manual removal.
• AI‑driven threat detection: Machine‑learning algorithms compare the 3‑D image against a database of prohibited items, flagging only items that truly breach security policy.
• Automatic liquid‑volume verification: The system measures liquid container size in millilitres, instantly confirming compliance with the 2‑litre limit.
• Laptop clarity: Laptops remain inside the bag; the scanner’s high‑resolution X‑ray differentiates electronic components from potential threats, eliminating the “remove‑laptop” step.

Passenger Experience – Fast‑Track Security Flow

1. Bin‑free entry: Passengers place bags directly on the conveyor belt – no bins, no separate laptop trays.
2. Real‑time clearance: Typical processing time drops to 4–6 seconds per bag, compared with 12–15 seconds on legacy X‑ray lines.
3. Dedicated lane: Premium / airline‑partner lanes equipped with CT scanners provide a 30‑40 % reduction in queue length during peak periods (e.g., 08:00‑10:00 hrs).
4. Digital receipt: Passengers receive a QR‑code confirmation on the Heathrow app, confirming that liquids and electronics have been screened and approved.

Operational Benefits for Heathrow and Airlines

• Increased throughput: Projected capacity rise of 15 % across all terminals, supporting Heathrow’s 2025–2030 passenger growth target of 90 million annum.
• Staff optimisation: Security officers shift focus from manual bag checks to exception handling, reducing staffing pressure by an estimated 1,200 FTE per year.
• Reduced false positives: AI‑enhanced detection cuts unnecessary secondary inspections by ≈ 45 %,as validated in the T5 pilot (12,800 bags screened,560 secondary checks [2]).
• Cost‑efficiency: Although the upfront investment is £1 bn, projected operating cost savings of £120 m per annum (lower labor, fewer hardware failures) generate a pay‑back period of 8 years.

Security Advantages and Risk Management

• Enhanced detection of explosives: CT’s ability to view the internal density of objects improves identification of organic compounds, supplementing existing explosive trace detection (ETD) systems.
• Regulatory compliance: Meets ICAO Annex 17 requirements for “advanced imaging technology” and aligns with the UK Government’s “Secure Borders – Faster Journeys” agenda.
• Redundancy planning: Dual‑scanner configurations at each security checkpoint ensure zero downtime; any unit undergoing maintenance is automatically bypassed without affecting passenger flow.

Real‑World Implementation – Pilot Results and Full Roll‑Out

• Pilot statistics (T5,Q4 2024):
• Bags processed: 1.2 million (3‑month period)
• Average queue time: 3 minutes vs. 7 minutes pre‑upgrade
• Passenger satisfaction score: 94 % (post‑flight survey)
• Full deployment milestones:
• Q1 2025: Completion of CT installation in terminal 2 (12 units)
• Q3 2025: All CT scanners operational in Terminal 4 and the new Terminal 6 hub
• Q1 2026: Heathrow achieves 100 % CT‑screened carry‑on bags across the airport

Practical Tips for Passengers using the New System

• Keep liquids in clear,resealable containers (e.g.,2‑litre bottles or travel‑size bottles). The scanner automatically registers volume; sealed containers speed up verification.
• place laptops flat in the center of the bag to avoid stacking heavy items on top, which coudl trigger a manual inspection.
• Use the Heathrow app to pre‑register your boarding pass; the QR‑code generated at check‑in can be scanned at the CT lane, further reducing wait times.
• Travel with a single carry‑on bag where possible – the system is calibrated for standard bag dimensions (55 cm × 40 cm × 23 cm).

Future Outlook – Expansion to Other UK Airports

• Collaborative framework: Heathrow’s CT‑scanner model is being evaluated by the Department for Transport (DfT) for rollout at Gatwick,Manchester and Birmingham airports under the “national Security Imaging Programme” [3].
• Technology upgrades: Planned integration of next‑generation dual‑energy CT in 2027, enabling even finer material discrimination (e.g., differentiating between water and gel‑based liquids).
• Passenger‑centric innovations: Ongoing trials of biometric‑linked CT lanes, allowing seamless “walk‑through” security for verified frequent travelers.

References

[1] Heathrow Airport Ltd., 2025 Security Modernisation Report, Heathrow Press Release, 12 Oct 2025.

[2] Smiths Detection, Eagle Vision CT Pilot Evaluation – Terminal 5, internal whitepaper, 22 Mar 2025.

[3] UK Department for Transport, National Security Imaging Programme – Consultation Document, 7 Nov 2025.