Passengers at Václav Havel Airport should see a more convenient security check as early as next year as they will no longer have to worry about the liquids in their carry-on bags while going through the scanners, as reported Czech media outlet Zdopravy. In the near future, passengers will not have to take electronics out of their bag or suitcase.
The planned changes were confirmed by Prague Airport spokesperson Klára Divíšková. “The plan is to get X-rays with CT scanning technology, which will allow liquids and all electronic devices to be kept inside the luggage,” she said. “Thanks to this technology, it will possible to relax the rule on the declaration and transport of liquids with a volume limit of up to 100 milliliters.”
Divíšková specified that this option will only be available at Terminal 2. Due to space constraints of decentralized screening, it is not possible to implement these devices in the screening process at Terminal 1. The changes may only take place later at a later stage, after the construction modifications are taken care of. The airport has installed toilets and drinking fountains in selected waiting areas.
Thanks to this technology, it will possible to relax the rule 100 ml limit on liquids
Klára Divíšková, Prague Airport spokesperson
The limit of 100 ml in one bottle was introduced in 2006. It slows down the passage through the control and also increases the cost of drinking for people: the price of water behind the control is usually higher than the average retail price.
Technology improvements such as 3D scanners are being implemented at other airports. On Tuesday April 4th, London City Airport announced that it has become the first major airport in the UK to deploy next generation security scanners for all passengers, enabling travelers to pass through security without removing laptops and liquids from their hand luggage.
Passengers flying from the central London airport for the Easter getaway will be the first in London to benefit from the new guidelines. They no longer have to restrict toiletries and liquids to 100ml bottles and can leave laptops, tablets and mobile phones in their bag, as they pass through streamlined security screening. Bottles with a capacity of 2 liters are also now permitted at London City Airport.
We have always prided ourselves on embracing innovation and being early adopters of new technology.
Alison FitzGerald, Chief Operating Officer
The introduction follows successful trials last year and positive feedback from passengers. London City expects travel to continue to rebound this year and is preparing to welcome close to 4 million passengers in 2023.
“The new CT scanners will take our passenger experience to another level, reducing the stress and hassle of 100mL liquids in clear, plastic bags and having to unload your hand luggage. The new process delivers a much more efficient security operation with enhanced security screening,” said Alison FitzGerald, Chief Operating Officer. “We are really confident that this investment will make the experience of traveling through London City even better for the business and leisure passengers using the airport, to quickly and easily get to our many domestic and international destinations.”
As part of the Department for Transport’s next generation security checkpoint, all UK airports must upgrade to the new system by June 2024. The CT technology is already in use in some international hub airports such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and LaGuardia Airport in the United States.
The news comes as London City welcomed nearly 300,000 passengers during the month of March, with Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Zurich the busiest destinations from the central London hub.
