Hand Luggage Liquid Rules are Changing in Europe: What Should Hungarian Travelers Watch For?

Airport security checks in Europe are undergoing a visible transformation, but the rules regarding liquids in hand luggage still lack uniformity. The latest news is that Brussels Airport announced on May 30th that it will completely renew its security screening system for departing passengers in the coming years and introduce CT hand luggage scanners. This technology allows passengers at certain airports to avoid removing laptops, electronic devices, and liquids from their bags; furthermore, within the new European frameworks, containers of up to two liters may be permitted for liquids. However, the most important message for Hungarian travelers is not that the 100 ml rule has disappeared, but that current regulations must be checked separately at every departure and transfer airport.

What happened at Brussels Airport?

According to the announcement from Brussels Zaventem Airport, the security infrastructure is undergoing a multi-year transformation. Based on the plans, the first new equipment could become operational in 2028, and by the summer of 2029, all security lanes in the departure area would be equipped with modern CT solutions. The airport's goal is twofold: faster passenger flow and greater capacity for the traffic growth of the coming years.

This news is important because Brussels is not an isolated example. Several major European airports have already started or partially introduced more advanced hand luggage scanning. The essence of the system is that the equipment provides a three-dimensional image of the luggage contents, allowing security personnel to assess more accurately what is in the bag. This can reduce the frequent problem of passengers having to pack laptops, tablets, liquid bags, or cosmetics into separate trays while in line.

At the same time, the transition in Brussels is not immediate. Those flying from Brussels in the summer or autumn of 2026 or in 2027 must still follow the airport's current rules valid on the day of departure. This is especially important for those traveling on business, city visits, or short weekend trips with only hand luggage, who wish to avoid checked baggage fees.

The 100 ml rule is still the default in many places

The official information for travelers from the European Union continues to state the principle that liquids, aerosols, and gels carried into the cabin must be transported in containers of no more than 100 ml, in a transparent, resealable bag of no more than one liter. Larger containers generally must be placed in checked baggage, except for medicines, special dietary products, and baby food, which may require separate inspection.

This basic situation remains important because the new technology is not appearing everywhere at once. The airport needs appropriate equipment, regulatory approval, operational procedures, and trained staff. Therefore, the change may vary by corridor, terminal, and country. A passenger could easily encounter a situation where more modern screening is operational at the departure airport, but the traditional 100 ml rule is applied again on the return journey or at a transfer airport.

The biggest misunderstanding currently arises from the fact that news reports often state that Europe is "abolishing" the 100 ml limit. The reality is more nuanced. The limit may only be relaxed where the specific screening system and the specific airport lane meet the regulatory conditions. If a passenger misinterprets the news and, for example, takes a larger perfume, sunscreen, olive oil, or wine in their hand luggage to an airport where the new procedure is not yet in effect, the product may be confiscated at security.

Where might the screening already be more relaxed?

Among the largest European hubs, new generation hand luggage scanning is operational or under testing in several places. In addition to the recent Brussels announcement, industry and airport information mention large airports such as London Heathrow, Dublin, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, or Rome Fiumicino. In Italy, several airports, including Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, and Turin, are among the points where CT screening and the issue of larger liquid quantities are already particularly important topics from a passenger experience perspective.

For Hungarian travelers, this is a practical issue because several of these airports are frequent transfer or destination points. If someone is traveling via Rome, it is worth checking the current information for Rome Fiumicino Airport before departure. For city visits to Milan or North Italian routes, it may be useful to monitor the pages of Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports. Similarly, for longer European or overseas routes, the security rules of Frankfurt Airport, Dublin Airport, London Heathrow, or Amsterdam Schiphol may also influence what is worth packing in hand luggage.

It is important that such internal airport information does not replace the official security information of the given airport. Booking and airport pages provide a good starting point for route planning, but the final decision should always be made based on the latest passenger instructions from the departure airport and the airline.

Why does this matter for short trips?

Traveling with hand luggage has become particularly popular in recent years. Due to the fee structures of low-cost airlines, shorter city visits, and fast online check-in, many try to pack everything into a single small bag. The relaxation of liquid rules is therefore not a minor convenience detail: it can affect whether someone can take full-sized cosmetics, medicinal preparations, contact lens solution, sunscreen, or local gastronomic gifts into the cabin.

At the same time, in the current transition period, the safer strategy is for the passenger to continue preparing for the stricter rule. This is especially true for trips involving multiple countries. For example, a Hungarian traveler might depart from an airport where screening is more convenient, then depart again from a smaller regional airport where the old procedure still operates. The same can happen during a transfer: the contents of the hand luggage may pass the first check, but may cause a problem at a second security point.

It is also essential that the new scanners do not mean general permission for all items. Rules regarding dangerous, flammable, or prohibited substances remain in effect. The permission of larger liquid containers does not change the fact that certain aerosols, chemicals, sharp objects, or batteries may be subject to separate restrictions. Security personnel may still request the removal, separate inspection, or retention of an item.

What should the Hungarian traveler do before departure?

The best practice is for the passenger to check the official website of the airport 24-48 hours before departure, specifically the "security", "hand luggage", "liquids", or "cabin baggage" section. If multiple airports are involved in the route, each must be checked separately. It is not enough to know that the first airport is modern; the rules for the return journey and transfer also count.

• If unsure of the rule, pack as if the 100 ml limit were in effect.
• Place important medicines and special dietary products separately, in an easily presentable manner.
• Take high-value liquids, such as perfume, wine, or olive oil, in hand luggage only if both the departure and transfer airports explicitly allow it.
• Do not assume that the same rule applies on the outbound and return journeys.
• Check the airline's rules regarding hand luggage size and number of pieces separately, as these are not identical to airport security regulations.

For those traveling with family, the change may be particularly useful in the future, as less packing and less rushing are expected at security. Baby products and medicines have enjoyed separate exceptions so far, but CT systems can make the entire process simpler. However, in the transition period, family travelers should also prepare in advance: repacking in line with children and multiple bags is much more stressful than selecting liquids in advance at home.

What does all this mean for European flying?

The spread of CT security screening is one of the quiet but significant improvements in European flying from a passenger experience perspective. The technology promises greater throughput for airports, less packing for passengers, and a more accurate image for security personnel. These developments are especially important during the peak summer season, when lines can quickly build up and a single slower security lane can affect the operation of the entire terminal.

The change, however, does not happen overnight. The Brussels example shows that the complete transition of a large airport can take years. Those traveling in 2026 will still encounter a mixed system: there will be airports and lanes where modern screening is already more convenient, and there will be places where the traditional 100 ml rule remains the practice. This duality may remain with us for a long time.

Summary

The most important conclusion is simple: the practical transformation of hand luggage liquid rules in Europe has indeed begun, but travelers should not treat the relaxation as a general rule. The recent announcement from Brussels Airport shows that large airports are moving toward faster, CT-based screening in the long term. However, for Hungarian travelers in 2026, it remains safest to check the regulations for each route and, in case of doubt, pack according to the 100 ml rule. This reduces the chance that an expensive cosmetic, gift, or drink remains at security, and increases the chance that the trip begins calmly right from the airport.