The government is giving UK airports an extension on requirements to install next-generation security scanners that will end the 100ml liquid restrictions.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said that due to issues, including the global supply chain’s continued recovery from the pandemic, some airports have been unable to upgrade their security checkpoints before the previously-announced deadline of 1 June 2024.

It has now extended the deadline by a year on a case-by-case basis after airports including Heathrow and Gatwick already admitted they would not meet the deadline.

Heathrow has already installed the scanners in Terminals 2, 3 and 5, with forthcoming additions to Terminal 4. As the largest airport in the UK, it had to upgrade 146 security lanes in total. The airport, which has been trialling the new technology since 2019, said that under current technology at least 60% of bags rejected at security checkpoints are subjected to hand searches because passengers haven't removed all liquids...