The End of the Liquids Ban. How AI Is Changing Airport Security

UK airports are rolling out a new generation of AI-powered security lanes that could finally spell the end of the dreaded liquids ban. Major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Southampton, Aberdeen, and Glasgow are now testing advanced CT scanner technology that allows passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their bags whilst passing through security.

The new system, known as Project DARTMOUTH, uses artificial intelligence and sophisticated computer tomography scanners to automatically detect threats within luggage without requiring passengers to unpack their belongings. For anyone who has frantically searched for a transparent plastic bag at 5am, this represents a genuine transformation in the airport experience.

How the New Technology Works

Traditional airport security relies on conventional X-ray machines that produce flat, two-dimensional images. Security staff must interpret these images to identify potential threats, which often leads to bag checks when shadows overlap or items are difficult to distinguish. This is why you have been removing laptops and liquids for the past two decades. The scanners simply could not reliably differentiate between a bottle of water and something more dangerous when viewed as a flat image.

The new CT scanners create detailed three-dimensional images of everything inside your bag. Artificial intelligence algorithms, developed by Pangiam in partnership with Google Cloud, analyse these images in real time. The system can identify liquids up to two litres in volume and distinguish between harmless electronic devices and potential threats without human intervention.

Gatwick Airport, which is leading the rollout, claims that 95 per cent of passengers will be processed through security within five minutes once the new lanes are fully operational. That is a dramatic improvement on current waiting times, which can stretch to 20 minutes or more during peak periods.

Which Airports Are Getting the Upgrade

The Project DARTMOUTH trials are underway at multiple UK airports with varying levels of implementation.

**Southampton Airport** has been the test bed for the new system and has already demonstrated significant improvements in passenger processing times. As a smaller airport with lower passenger volumes, it provided an ideal environment for testing the technology before wider rollout.

**AGS Airports Group**, which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton, has committed to deploying the technology across all three of its airports following successful trials.

**Heathrow and Gatwick**, the UK's busiest airports, are now installing the new lanes. Gatwick in particular has made this a priority following passenger complaints about security queues during the 2024 summer travel season.

**Manchester Airport** is also implementing the technology across its three terminals, though the full rollout is expected to take several months.

What This Means for Your Next Flight

The most immediate benefit for travellers is the ability to keep liquids and electronic devices in your hand luggage. This removes one of the most stressful aspects of modern air travel. No more decanting shampoo into 100ml bottles. No more digging through your bag for your laptop whilst holding up the queue. No more realising you have left a bottle of water in your backpack and having to either drink it or surrender it to security.

The two-litre liquid allowance is particularly significant. This means you could bring a standard bottle of wine, a large bottle of sunscreen, or multiple toiletries without worrying about the 100ml restriction that has governed air travel since 2006.

However, there are some important caveats. First, the rollout is happening gradually. Not every security lane at every airport will have the new scanners immediately. You may still encounter traditional security procedures, particularly during the transition period. The advice remains to prepare for standard screening even when travelling through airports that are implementing the new technology.

Second, the two-litre liquid limit applies specifically to the new CT scanner lanes. If you are directed to a traditional lane, standard restrictions still apply. Airport signage should make this clear, but it is worth checking which type of scanner you are approaching.

When Will the Rollout Complete

There is no single completion date for this programme. Each airport is implementing the technology on its own schedule based on infrastructure requirements and budget constraints.

Gatwick expects to have the majority of its security lanes upgraded by summer 2026. Heathrow has not committed to a specific timeline but has confirmed the technology is being installed. Manchester anticipates full deployment across all terminals by late 2026. The AGS airports are further ahead, with Southampton already operational and Aberdeen and Glasgow following in early 2026.

The UK government has not mandated a deadline for implementation, meaning smaller regional airports may take longer to upgrade their facilities. Travellers using airports like Birmingham, Edinburgh, or Luton should expect standard security procedures for the foreseeable future.

The Technology Behind the Change

Project DARTMOUTH represents a collaboration between Pangiam, a security technology company, and Google Cloud. The system uses Google's Vertex AI platform to analyse CT scanner images in milliseconds.

This is not simply faster scanning. The artificial intelligence can identify threats that might be missed by human operators, particularly when objects are concealed within complex luggage arrangements. The system has been trained on millions of images to recognise everything from firearms and explosives to more subtle threats.

Critically, the technology also reduces false positives. One of the main causes of security delays is bags being pulled for manual inspection when the X-ray image looks suspicious but turns out to be harmless. The 3D imaging and AI analysis significantly reduces these unnecessary checks.

What About the 100ml Rule

The 100ml liquid restriction was introduced in 2006 following a foiled terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. It has been one of the most unpopular and inconvenient aspects of air travel for nearly two decades.

The new CT scanners can detect liquid explosives without requiring passengers to limit container sizes. This is why airports with the new technology can safely increase the allowance to two litres. However, the 100ml rule will remain in force at airports without CT scanners and at security lanes that have not yet been upgraded.

There is no indication that the 100ml rule will be abolished entirely until the vast majority of UK and international airports have implemented compatible technology. This means travellers will need to remain aware of which airports and which specific security lanes have the new capabilities for several years to come.

Tips for Travellers During the Transition

Until the rollout is complete, flexibility remains essential. Check your departure airport's website before travelling to see if they have announced CT scanner implementation. If you are travelling from Gatwick or Southampton, you are more likely to encounter the new lanes. From other airports, assume standard procedures apply.

Even when travelling through airports with new scanners, pack your liquids and laptop in an easily accessible manner. If you are randomly directed to a traditional lane, you will still need to remove them. The transition period will last several years, and being prepared for either type of screening is the safest approach.

The introduction of AI-powered security lanes represents genuine progress in making air travel less stressful. After nearly twenty years of removing shoes, belts, laptops, and liquids, the prospect of walking through security with everything still in your bag feels almost revolutionary. The technology is here. The rollout is underway. For frequent flyers, the days of the plastic bag dance may finally be numbered.

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**Sources**

- [UK Airports Revolutionize Travel with AI-Powered Security Lanes](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uk-airports-revolutionize-travel-with-ai-powered-security-lanes-how-heathrow-gatwick-and-manchester-are-transforming-your-next-flight/) - Travel and Tour World

- [UK Airports Trial AI-Powered Security Lanes](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/uk-airports-trial-ai-powered-security-lanes-to-reduce-wait-times-and-enhance-passenger-experience/) - Travel and Tour World

- [UK Airports Experiment With Dynamic Security Lanes](https://travel-news.co.uk/air-travel/uk-airports-experiment-with-dynamic-security-lanes/36062/) - Travel News

- [Pangiam Working with AGS Airports](https://airport-world.com/tsa-to-trial-new-ai-driven-accessible-screening-solution/) - Airport World