A travel expert has warned that the majority of British travellers are unaware of changes to airport liquid rules, potentially leading to confusion this summer. A survey by AirAdvisor found that 83% of people do not know what the 100ml liquid rules will be at airports this summer.
The Government announced that major airports must install new scanners by June 1, allowing passengers to carry up to two litres of liquids in hand luggage and keep electronics in bags. However, many airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester have admitted they will miss the deadline. Smaller airports such as Teesside, London City, Birmingham and Newcastle have the new technology in place and expect to go live on time.
The only airports scrapping the 100ml rule this summer are London City, Newcastle, Teesside and Birmingham. Other major airports are expected to introduce the rule within the first few months of 2025. According to the survey, 97% of respondents did not know which airports would scrap the 100ml liquid rules this summer.
Anton Radchenko, founder and CEO of AirAdvisor, said: 'If you're travelling through any of these airports, the old rules will still apply to you even if you're travelling to/from London City, Newcastle, and Teesside, which have scrapped the 100ml liquid rule. Passengers flying on this route must be careful and aware that old rules will still apply this summer.'
Radchenko also criticised airlines for not keeping passengers informed, with 77% of respondents rating airline customer service as bad. He advised airlines to send SMS messages, emails and call alerts, and to use social media and help desks to spread awareness.
The survey identified the change in 100ml rules as the most challenging aspect of summer air travel for 42% of respondents, followed by delays and cancellations (34%), congestion (13%), lost luggage (7%) and missed flights (3%).
