Modern technologies - based on the principle of computed tomography - could allow us to carry more liquids on the plane. It remains "only" for airports to be equipped with the appropriate devices.
Until now, strict rules on liquids carried in hand luggage applied to air travelers. But this may soon change - the EU has given permission for the use of scanners that successfully distinguish flammable liquids and could theoretically allow the carrying of larger bottles in hand luggage, writes ARD. It depends "only" when will the airports implement the new technology?
A spokeswoman for Frankfurt Airport, for example, told German public media: "Since the passenger has no way of knowing what devices he will be checked with upon departure, the old rules remain in force for now - individual bottles of up to 100 milliliters, packed in a transparent plastic bag. Their total volume cannot exceed one liter".
Many of the devices have already been delivered
At the largest airport in Germany - according to the spokeswoman - 40 of the 190 control corridors are already equipped with the new scanners. Another 40 devices have been ordered. However, it is not yet known when the entire airport will be equipped with the new technology.
Travelers via Munich should also be patient, ARD warns. A large number of scanners have also been ordered there, but they must be provided with the appropriate software. No deadlines have been specified yet.
According to the EC, 700 scanners of the new type are currently deployed or already in use in 21 of the Community's member states. The list is expected to increase, depending on the pace at which the new devices will receive EU approval. ARD explains that the devices are from the British company "Smiths Detection" and can examine hand luggage on the principle of computed tomography.
The photos will be three-dimensional
The modern devices will be able to instantly provide hundreds of photos of the relevant luggage, which allows the appearance of three-dimensional frames on the control monitor and the most detailed multi-layered tracking of the contents of the luggage. Solid and liquid explosives will be able to be detected, the ARD states.
The restrictions on carrying liquids by air were introduced in 2006 after it became known that terrorists could make an explosive based on several types of liquids on board a single aircraft.