UK and EU airports are sticking with 100ml liquid rule - but why?

Air travellers who hoped the era of "tiny toiletries" was nearly over are facing fresh disappointment, as European airports re-introduce strict cabin bag rules. Some EU destinations had scrapped the 100ml limit for liquids being carried in hand luggage. But from Sunday, they must all bring it back due to a "temporary technical issue" with new security scanners. It follows a similar move by the UK earlier this summer. It means if you have been on holiday, you cannot buy a large bottle of suncream, perfume or a local tipple before you get to the airport and expect to carry it home in your hand luggage. But why has it happened? And will the relaxed rules that had started in some locations ever return? Airline passengers around the world had grown used to strict 100ml restrictions on liquids, pastes and gels, which had to be put in a clear plastic bag. But new scanning machines which use CT X-ray technology should in theory enable larger volumes of liquids to go through, and laptops to stay in bags. Some EU airports, for example in Rome and Amsterdam, had already put them in place and eased their rules. Most had not yet. Some others have been trialling the new technology. The Europe branch of the Airports Council International (ACI) estimates around 350 of these scanners are now in use across 13 EU countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden. However, the EU has reinstated the 100ml limit so a technical issue with the new equipment can be addressed, although it has not said what this issue is.<br/>