EU restricts use of new generation baggage scanners

NEWS FLASH

The European Union is introducing severe restrictions to the use of next generation cabin baggage scanners at airports in the block, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The amendments are specifically targeting C3 scanners, which until now allowed passengers to carry liquids without any restriction and to keep them along with their large electronic devices inside their cabin bags at security checkpoints. Starting September 1 of this year, the new restriction introduces a 100-millilitre limitation for individual containers of liquids, thus erasing the main benefit passengers had from the use of C3 scanners. This will also reduce the passenger throughput of security checkpoints at airports that have deployed C3 scanners. The new restriction means that those airports that have already invested in C3 scanners to improve the passenger experience and their operational efficiency are heavily penalised. Purchasing C3 scanners is on average eight times more expensive than the conventional X-ray screening machines they are replacing, while operating maintenance costs are four times higher. The European Commission has stated the “precautionary measure is not in response to any new threat but addresses a temporary technical issue, undertaken in alignment with the EU’s international partners”.