You Can Carry Liquids In Your Hand Luggage In These Spanish Airports From 2024

For as long as many of us care to remember, the volume of liquids you can carry through the airport has been limited. This rule was first introduced in November 2006, after a terrorist plot involving explosives in drinks bottles was foiled.  But these stringent and frustrating rules are set to be reversed in some airports in 2024.

This will make travel easier and more hassle free for many travelers whilst still maintaining safety standards, because luggage will be screened by 3D x-ray scanners to ensure they are still safe. So which airport will introduce these new rules? And why? Here’s everything you need to know:

Which Airports Will Introduce The Change First?

The roll out of this new system, which will see passengers able to keep both their liquids and their electronics in their hand luggage as they pass through security checkpoints, will commence in 2024. Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El-Prat airports, will become the first Spanish terminals to implement this new approach. This will happen at the same time as other major airports across the EU try remove the 100ml liquid rule for their passengers.

In addition to this, Palma de Mallorca Airport have announced that they will join the ranks of the newly streamlined security procedures by the end of 2024.

If the new approach is successful in these 3 Spanish airports then the installation of advanced 3D X-ray scanners will follow a phased schedule, with Malaga Costa del Sol leading in 2025, and subsequent implementation at Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur, Fuerteventura, Cesar Manrique Lanzarote, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez, Ibiza, Bilbao, Menorca, and Valencia set for 2026.

Why Are These Changes Being Introduced?

Spanish airports have experienced long queues and delays, thanks to increased visitor numbers in the post-covid world. These changes will not only enhance security measures but they will also make the security screening process much faster The 100ml limit was established, encompassing a wide range of liquids, pastes and gels, but thanks to advanced scanners and x-ray capabilities it is no longer needed.

Electronics, such as laptops, were also subjected to scrutiny due to their potential to obstruct other items or conceal explosives and weapons. But advanced 3D scanners and enhanced X-ray technology will enable security personnel to scrutinise carry-on luggage with greater precision without any items needing to be removed from the luggage.

Spain is not a guinea pig in the use of these scanners. These scanners have undergone successful trials in the United States before they have been introduced in European airports The United Kingdom has plans to adopt this technology from June 2024, while Ireland is conducting trials in Dublin and Cork.

Will All Airports End The 100ml Limit For Hand Luggage Liquids?

In the case of Spain, the 100ml limit for liquids will no longer be in effect, allowing travellers to carry liquids of any size in their hand luggage and pass through airport security faster than ever. However, in real terms this will only apply to those airports listed above initially.

 Containers will no longer need to be stored in transparent, sealable plastic bags, and there will be no maximum limit for the total volume of liquids. Various items, including perfume, cream, foam, gel, shampoo, lotions, jams, toothpaste, mixtures of liquid and solid, and items with a similar consistency, will no longer be subject to this regulation. Travellers will be able to bring liquids of various sizes without restrictions.

Because Spain is part of the European Union, these changes can only be introduced with the agreement of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has recently resolved to allow passengers to carry standard cabin bags free of charge. While this regulation is not yet enforceable, the European Commission is actively working on establishing common regulations for hand luggage that will apply to all airlines, including low-cost carriers like Ryanair. This is a significant milestone that will make travelling through Spanish airports easier than ever.

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