Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Manchester to delay the end of the 100ml liquid rule for millions of passengers as government to grant deadline extension

Britain’s biggest airports have been granted more time to install new security scanners that would end the need for 100ml limits of liquid in hand luggage, it is understood.

Ministers had given airports – including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester – a target of June 1 to install the next generation CT scanners.

The machinery aims to reduce hassle for passengers, speed up security and reduce waste by ending the need for mini toiletries.

But airport bosses have now been told they have until the end of January to seek an ‘alleviation’ from the June deadline, The Times reports.

It is thought ministers will likely give airports until next year to implement the technology, which is already widely used in the US and Australia.

A source says a ‘good business case’ must be put forward outlining the reasons for any delay, and penalties remain a possibility.

The ‘Next Generation Security Checkpoints’ – intended to slash waiting times by allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on baggage – are only in one UK airport

A senior source said: ‘The hubs have until the end of the month to request an extension to the June deadline. Conversations have been taking place in the last week and ministers are getting ready to make a decision on next steps.’

Besides the expense of the new scanners, many major airports will need to rearrange their security areas to accommodate the size of the machines.

The floors of some terminals will need to be strengthened to handle their weight.

Nick Barton, the chief executive of Birmingham airport, said: ‘The existing scanner is like a large domestic washing machine.

‘The new machines are the size of a Ford Transit. Birmingham is on course to meet the June deadline.’

Consumer group Which? warned it would lead to delays as customers would expect hand luggage rules to have changed only to find out that was not the case.

Air passengers have faced longer queues for security checks and strict limits on the quantity of liquids they can carry in their hand luggage since the authorities foiled a UK terror cell’s plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs in 2006.

Part of one of the ‘very heavy’ scanners being moved into place at Heathrow Airport

The new scanners, which create a 3D image of the contents of bags, allow airports to ditch the 100ml liquid limit and the requirement that travellers put them in a clear plastic bag.

Passengers will be able to take two litres of liquid inside their bags and will not have to remove laptops.

The new scanners are already used in countries including the US and Australia.

Trials began in the UK in 2018 and some airports, including London City and Teesside, have already rolled out the technology.

But Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester are expected to need more time to install the new equipment across all lanes, meaning some will still use the old scanners this summer.

Aviation commentator Sally Gethin told the BBC: ‘[The scanners] are very heavy. Sometimes the floors in the actual terminal have to be reinforced.’

Rory Boland, travel editor at Which?, said: ‘We’re now going to go into a situation where different [UK] airports have different rules, so at some places you will need to get the liquids out in advance, at others you won’t.’

Travel expert Nicky Kelvin tested out London City Airport’s ‘fancy’ new scanners in May

Warning this could cause confusion at security, he added: ‘You only need a couple of passengers to not be prepared to end up having to wait an extra 10, 20, 30 minutes.

‘It is disappointing that we’re in a situation just months ahead of the peak travel period… and major airports aren’t ready.’

Heathrow, Gatwick and MAG, which operates Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, have been approached for comment.