Spanish Airports To End Liquids And Laptops Removal Rule From 2024

Beginning in 2024, passengers passing through Spanish airports will no longer be required to remove liquids and laptops from their luggage during inspections.

The new inspection process will be facilitated by a new 3D X-ray scanner system called an Explosive Detection System for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB).

AENA, Spain’s airport manager has said that Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat will be the first to use the pioneering new technology which is hoped will dramatically improve the time it takes passengers to transit through Spanish airports.

Passengers will no longer have to remove electronic devices in separate trays or place liquids in plastic bags during the control, potentially streamlining the process for travellers.

It is hoped that the new inspection measures will enhance both safety and passenger comfort. The current practice of placing liquids, perfumes, creams, aerosols, foams, gels, shampoo, and toothpaste in individual containers not exceeding 100 milliliters in a transparent plastic bag with a maximum capacity of 1 liter (approximately 20 x 20 centimeters) will be eliminated.

Under the new regulations, travelers will be permitted to carry toiletries such as colognes, creams, and makeup in medium or family-sized containers. Previously, the only cosmetic items allowed on board were drinks and perfumes that were purchased at the airport and placed in approved and sealed security bags, along with the purchase receipt.

The technology with these scanners is currently undergoing testing at London's Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports. The UK government has also stated that it will modify security protocols to implement the scanners by 2024.

Additionally, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has conducted trials of these devices at fifteen airports, including Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and Chicago.

Aena's Airport Regulation Document (Dora), unveiled in September 2021, proposed upgrading operational safety management systems and incorporating cutting-edge security technologies to streamline passenger transit and enhance efficiency during the five-year period between 2022 and 2026.

Aena is committed to investing 1.17 billion euros in physical security between 2018 and 2028, which will include the renewal of baggage inspection equipment in the hold and security filters, ensuring the same level of security standards across its network of airports, large or small.

The initiative is part of a broader initiative to modernize security filters across Spanish airports, encompassing biometric systems for access to controls, automated lines for hand luggage management, and remote inspection systems that expedite the flow of passengers through the busiest airports.

Source

https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5102744/0/los-pasajeros-no-tendran-que-sacar-liquidos-y-portatiles-en-los-controles-de-los-aeropuertos-a-partir-de-2024/
https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/02/20/sacar-los-liquidos-y-los-portatiles-en-los-controles-de-los-aeropuertos-espanoles-ya-no-sera-obligatorio-a-partir-de-2024-cadena-ser/
https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/02/20/passengers-will-no-longer-be-required-to-take-out-liquids-and-laptops-at-spanish-airports-from-2024/