Birmingham Airport hand luggage rules as rival makes change

Bournemouth Airport has made a huge change to its security rules 'with immediate effect'

A UK airport has ditched an annoying security rule 'with immediate effect'. New screening equipment has now been installed and tested at Bournemouth Airport, promoting the change.

Passengers will now be able to keep more items in their hand luggage when passing through security. This includes large electrical items, such as laptops, and liquids of up to 100ml. Previously, liquids were required to go through scanners separately in a clear plastic bag.

Bosses said the new system would 'improve passenger security'. Changes come ahead of Jet2 launching 16 new routes from the airport next year, The Sun reports.

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An statement released by the airport reads: "Bournemouth Airport has completed the process of installing and testing new security screening equipment to improve passenger security. For hand luggage this means that with immediate effect, passengers flying from Bournemouth Airport can now leave liquids and large electrical items such as laptops in their cabin baggage.

"Passengers flying from Bournemouth Airport will no longer need to present liquids separately in a clear plastic bag however, liquids are still restricted to containers of up to 100ml. As many airports have not yet introduced this new technology, passengers should check restrictions prior to travel as, they may still be required to carry liquids within a clear plastic bag for the return journey back to Bournemouth Airport."

Birmingham Airport also allows passengers to keep the items in their hand luggage when travelling out of the city. It said it was "one of the first UK airports to meet the Government directive for new security equipment".

Advice given to customers on the airport's website states that only liquids, pastes and gels in containers up to 100ml could be carried in hand luggage - anything larger must go into checked in luggage.

The airport also states that anything above the 100ml limit in hand luggage would be removed and destroyed, however there was no limit on the amount of under 100mls containers that could be carried.

Passengers were permitted to take containers that can carry more than 100ml, but they must be completely empty. Liquids, pastes and gels should not be placed into plastic bags, instead remaining loose in hand luggage.

The airport now requires passengers to keep liquids and all electricals in their hand luggage during the security search, however all items must be taken out of pockets including phones, keys, coins and tissues. Watches can be left on.