Heathrow Airport has abolished the 100 ml rule: what will change for passengers in 2025

One of Europe's largest airports has changed one of its strictest aviation security rules. Find out how much liquid you can now carry in your hand luggage through London Heathrow and why the 100 ml restriction is becoming a thing of the past

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London Heathrow Airport, Europe's largest airport in terms of passenger traffic, has relaxed one of the most criticized aviation security rules—restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage. The changes were reported by the aviation publication Avianews.

Since January this year, passengers passing through security at Heathrow have been allowed to take containers with liquids up to 2 liters in volume into the aircraft cabin, whereas previously the limit was only 100 ml for each container.

What liquids are now allowed in carry-on luggage

The new rules mean that passengers can take the following items on board without volume restrictions: drinking water, soft drinks and other beverages, liquids brought from home, and beverages purchased outside the airport.

This means that passengers at Heathrow no longer need to buy water or drinks after passing through security. For travelers planning transfers or traveling with children, this greatly simplifies the logistics of their trip.

Why Heathrow has relaxed the rules

To get rid of outdated restrictions, the airport administration invested £1 billion (about €1.15 billion) in the purchase of modern baggage screening scanners. The new equipment has a number of advantages:

● it detects dangerous substances more accurately;

● it automatically checks the contents of hand luggage;

● works faster than older inspection systems.

As a result, passengers no longer need to remove liquids and electronic devices from their suitcases for separate visual inspection. This not only increases comfort, but also significantly reduces queues at security checks — one of the main problems at large European airports.

For Ukrainians who often travel through European hubs or combine air travel with bus or train routes, these changes make travel more comfortable. By the way, when planning your route in advance, it is convenient to book plane, train, or bus tickets through the Visit Ukraine system, which allows you to combine different modes of transport in one trip.

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As a rule, 100 ml appeared in Europe

Restrictions on the carriage of liquids in hand luggage at European airports were introduced in August 2006. The reason was the exposure of a large-scale terrorist plot in the UK.

At that time, British special services prevented plans to blow up several transatlantic flights using liquid explosives disguised as drinks and cosmetics. After the suspects were arrested, the authorities immediately imposed a strict ban on the carriage of any liquids in the aircraft cabin.

Subsequently, the European Union approved uniform rules for all member states: passengers were allowed to carry liquids, aerosols, and gels only in containers of up to 100 ml, packed in a transparent bag with a volume of no more than 1 liter.

Why the rule was criticized

In almost 20 years, the 100 ml restriction has become one of the most recognizable but also most inconvenient elements of aviation security. Passengers regularly complained that it:

● complicates the transportation of medicines and baby food;

● creates problems for families with children and people with chronic diseases;

● causes queues and delays at security checks.

Experts and passenger associations have repeatedly called the rule outdated and inconsistent with modern technological capabilities. The introduction of new scanners at Heathrow was the first step towards revising security approaches without compromising security.

We remind you! Airlines are tightening hand luggage rules in 2026 due to security and flight delays. Read what has changed, what restrictions are in place, and how to prepare for a smooth journey.

Photo: Andrejs Zavadskis

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