Heathrow Drops the Liquids Rule

Summary

London Heathrow (LHR) has officially scrapped its long-standing carry-on liquids limits, removing one of the most frustrating rituals in modern airport security: decanting liquids into 100ml bottles, stuffing them into plastic bags, and pulling them out at the X-ray belt. As of January 23, 2026, travelers departing from all Heathrow terminals (T2, T3, T4, T5) can now keep liquids and large electronics inside their bags during screening. The practical result is exactly what passengers have been asking for: you can carry normal-size shampoo, sunscreen, and beverages through security at LHR without the old 100ml cap. What’s now allowed at LHR — and what you no longer need to do At Heathrow (LHR), the new process is straightforward: Security staff can still ask for additional screening if something alarms, but the baseline process is now designed to be faster and less hands-on for most passengers. The enabling technology: CT security scanning, at full hub scale This shift is possible because Heathrow has completed a full rollout of next-generation CT (computed tomography) scanners at passenger security. CT scanners build a 3D image of the contents of a bag rather than relying on the flatter 2D picture of conventional X-ray systems. That added data—density, shape, and layered view—improves detection capability and reduces the need for passengers to “deconstruct” their bags at the checkpoint. For airport operations teams, the real benefit isn’t just traveler satisfaction. It’s throughput stability: Heathrow’s leadership is also highlighting the sustainability angle: removing the liquids-bag requirement is expected to eliminate millions of single-use plastic bags each year. Why this took so long in the UK and Europe If this feels overdue, it is. The UK and parts of Europe have been on an uneven path toward “liquids-stay-packed” screening for years. Some airports rolled out CT lanes early; others hit delays tied to equipment delivery, installation timelines, training, and c...