LONDON Heathrow has announced that travellers will no longer have to take certain items out of their bags at all terminals.
Brits can now breeze through the UK’s busiest airport without taking liquids and electronics out of their bags at security.
London Heathrow is now the largest airport in the world to fully roll out next-generation CT security scanners.
Thanks to a £1billion upgrade, passenger security lanes across all four of Heathrow’s terminals have been replaced.
The updated technology means that passengers will no longer have to take their 100ml liquids or electronics from their hand luggage before heading through security.
Travellers will still have to adhere to the 100ml restriction of liquids in their hand luggage.
The new technology will save the use of 16 million plastic bags per year.
You might still need to remove some items though like your coat or belts with a buckle before walking through the metal detector.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “Every Heathrow passenger can now leave their liquids and laptops in their bags at security as we become the largest airport in the world to roll out the latest security scanning technology.
“That means less time preparing for security and more time enjoying their journey – and millions fewer single-use plastic bags. This billion pound investment means our customers can be confident they will continue to have a great experience at Heathrow.”
London Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport, and one of the busiest in Europe handling between 83-84 million passengers each year.
The new scanners are predicted to save time for those heading through security.
Although Which? said that the “the sensitivity of the new scanners means that many people find that their bags must be searched by hand after passing through the scanner.”
London Heathrow isn’t the first airport to roll out these new scanners.
Other airports across the country stopped the need for liquid bags and taking electronics out of bags.
As of late 2025, these airports are; Birmingham, Edinburgh, London City, London Luton, Newcastle, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Southend, Teesside.
London Gatwick upgraded 19 of its security lanes at the end of March 2025, and said that more than 95 per cent of passengers were already getting through security in under five minutes.
Some airports have scrapped the 100ml liquid rule altogether – a rule which has been in place since 2006.
In July 2025, Birmingham Airport and Edinburgh Airport confirmed passengers can take up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage.
For more on London Heathrow, here’s an update on its £1.3billion upgrade plans including better terminals, fewer delays and faster baggage.
Plus, here’s everything you need to know before you travel in 2026.