[title]
Got plans to fly from Gatwick this year? Already feeling the stress bubbling through your body? Relax, we’ve got some good news. Security checks at the airport have just been made a little bit easier – the days of faffing about with clear plastic bags and digging out your laptop are officially over.
On Monday, April 7, it was announced that passengers will no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from their hand luggage. That’s thanks to the arrival of new ‘cutting-edge’ CT scanning machines that can create 3D images of the contents of your bag.
It was teased that the 100ml limit on liquids would also be scrapped as a result of the new scanners, but alas, that’s not the case. At least for now. Passengers will still need to make sure all their liquids, including gels, pastes, lotions and make-up are each no more than 100ml.
Still, the change means that security checks should now be quicker and more efficient. Cyrus Dana, head of security at Gatwick, said that the tech is ‘positive news’ for travellers. He said: ‘More than 95 percent of passengers already pass through security at Gatwick in under five minutes.
‘As we continue to grow, our top priority is the safety of our passengers and the security of the airport. This cutting-edge technology ensures a safe and robust experience for our passengers.’
Gatwick joins a bunch of other UK airports that have officially launched the new machines, including London City and Luton. But remember, lots of airports elsewhere are yet to get the tech, meaning that you might still need to have a clear bag to hand on your way back to the UK.
Three London airports have been named in the 100 best in the world for 2025.
And did you see that the Luton Airport expansion is officially happening?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.