A MAJOR Scots airport has been forced to reinstate strict hand luggage rules – despite introducing new scanners.
Holidaymakers travelling through the Aberdeen airport were glad to wave goodbye to the 100ml liquids rule.
But passengers have now been informed they will have to revert back to the old restrictions.
The reintroduction of restrictions on carrying liquids over 100ml at six regional airports in the UK is a “temporary measure”, according to the Transport Secretary.
New CT scanners were set to be installed across major UK airports that would allow people to travel with two litres of liquids.
The high-tech machines create a 3D image of what is inside passengers’ bags.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is reimposing the dreaded liquid limit at the five UK airports where it had been erased in what they describe as a “temporary measure”.
The change will come into effect from midnight on Sunday and will affect passengers travelling from London City, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds/Bradford, Southend and Teesside airports.
All of the airports have next generation security checkpoints (NGSC) in operation, which create a 3D image of what is inside passengers’ bags and had allowed them to scrap the rule.
The limit of liquids began in 2006 across all airports in the UK.
It followed a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the US with home-made liquid bombs.
Mark Harper said airline passengers should “check with their airport what the rules are” on carrying liquids over 100ml amid some confusion over the restrictions.
He told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: “The announcement we’ve made, which comes into force from midnight tonight, actually only affects six regional airports and about 6% of those travelling.
“For most passengers, actually, the rules haven’t changed at all yet and won’t therefore change tonight.
“People should just check with their airport what the rules are or the processes are at a particular airport.
“We’ve reintroduced that rule while updates and changes are made to the scanning equipment at airports to make sure we can continue delivering our world-leading levels of aviation security.
“It’s a temporary measure and we’ll set out when that can be reversed in due course.”