Zurich: Liquid Limit in Carry-on Baggage Increases to 2 Liters
From June 26, passengers departing from Zurich can carry liquid containers of up to 2 liters in their carry-on baggage if they pass through the main security check. This change promises a more convenient airport process, but it is not a general European rule: the classic 100 milliliter limit may still apply at transfers, on return trips, and at many other airports.
The fresh announcement from Zurich Airport is important for Hungarian travelers as well, because Zurich is not only a city visit and business destination, but also a frequent transfer point towards Europe, North America, Asia, and Alpine destinations. For those flying from Budapest to Switzerland, or departing from Zurich after their Swiss journey, packing carry-on baggage may be simpler from the end of June. However, the rule applies specifically only to those who start their journey in Zurich and pass through the security check at the Security Control Building.
According to the Zurich Airport announcement, the basis of the new system is carry-on baggage inspection based on CT technology. Since the end of 2025, the airport has been gradually replacing traditional equipment, and the project has reached its final stage: 26 lanes of the main security check building are being equipped with the new technology. The essence is that the equipment creates a three-dimensional image of the luggage, allowing security personnel to examine liquids and electronic devices more reliably without having to remove them from the bag in every case.
What exactly changes from June 26?
The most important change is that passengers departing from Zurich can take liquid containers of up to 2 liters through the main security check in their carry-on baggage. In practice, this means that every cream, drink, shampoo, or other liquid-like product does not need to be transferred into 100 milliliter packaging just because the luggage goes into the passenger area. According to airport information, liquids and electronic devices can be left in the bag during the inspection.
This is a significant leap in convenience compared to what most European passengers have become accustomed to over the last two decades. According to traditional rules, liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes in carry-on baggage can travel in containers of up to 100 milliliters, which must be presented in a transparent, resealable, maximum 1-liter bag. Zurich is now deviating from this for a specific group of departing passengers due to the introduction of the new CT inspection system.
The change may be useful not only for those who would take Swiss food, cosmetics, or larger packaged toiletries with them, but also for those who expect a faster security check with less packing. Fewer trays, less separate bagging, and less last-minute bag organizing may be needed. At the same time, the airport still requests that passengers allow sufficient time for security checks, as the technology itself does not eliminate peak-time waiting.
The new rule does not apply to all Zurich passengers
The most important restriction affects transfer passengers. According to Zurich Airport, the inspection areas for transfer passengers and certain special processes have not yet been equipped with the same CT technology. At these points, the old liquid rule remains in effect: containers of up to 100 milliliters in a transparent, resealable, maximum 1-liter bag.
This is especially important for Hungarian travelers who do not start their journey in Zurich, but arrive from, for example, Budapest or Vienna, and then transfer to another flight in Zurich. If another security check occurs during the transfer, it is not advisable to assume that the 2-liter rule automatically protects larger liquids. The transfer process, the boarding gate, the flight destination and the airport route can all influence which inspection must be passed.
The same applies to the return trip. If someone takes a larger liquid home from Zurich without trouble, it does not mean that on their next journey from Budapest, a South European holiday destination, or a distant airport, they can depart under the same rules. The application of the 2-liter liquid limit is currently not uniform across Europe: some airports already use new technology, others still maintain the 100 milliliter rule, and it may happen that different packing logic is needed for the outbound and return legs of the same route.
What should those flying from Budapest to Zurich pay attention to?
Demand for Budapest-Zurich flight tickets will not be determined by the liquid rule alone, but the change may improve the convenience of departures from Zurich. At the end of a weekend city visit, Alpine trip, business trip, or longer Swiss stay, many passengers face the desire to take home gifts, local products, or larger packaged cosmetics. From June 26, some of these in Zurich may no longer necessarily be forced into checked baggage, provided they meet the new inspection conditions and do not belong to other prohibited or restricted categories.
Hungarian travelers should still pack carefully. The 2-liter limit does not mean that anything can be taken on board without restriction. Rules regarding dangerous materials, batteries, aerosols, flammable products, sharp objects, and airline carry-on baggage sizes remain unchanged. The volume of the liquid is only one element of the security check; the nature and packaging of the product can still be decisive.
It is worth planning the packing based on the entire route, not just the departing airport. If someone departs from Zurich on a direct flight home, they are in a better position than someone who transfers at another airport or flies further from another country after the Zurich trip. For multi-leg journeys, the rule of the strictest inspection point will practically be the determining factor.
Thermoses, photo film and other exceptions
Zurich Airport specifically highlighted that double-walled bottles, such as thermoses, can only be taken through security checks when empty. This is because the multi-layered structure can make the reliable examination of the contents difficult. This is a good example of how the 2-liter rule is not simply a quantitative relaxation, but an airport procedure interpreted together with the technology.
Those traveling with analog photo film should also be careful. CT equipment can damage traditional films, therefore the airport recommends that passengers notify in advance if they have such sensitive materials and request a separate manual inspection. This detail may be especially important for photographers, filmmakers, and those who consciously use analog equipment while traveling.
The change therefore does not mean that the passenger no longer needs to prepare for anything. Rather, it is that the classic liquid-bag inspection in Zurich becomes much more flexible for passengers departing locally. Those who stay informed in time will have fewer unpleasant surprises before the gates.
Why does this matter on a European level?
Zurich's move is part of a broader European transition. Several large airports have already introduced or are testing next-generation CT carry-on baggage inspection, but the process is not uniform. A recent summary from Aviation Week also drew attention to the fact that there is no general exemption valid for all airports: passengers may encounter different restrictions depending on where they depart, where they transfer, and what equipment the given inspection point operates with.
This uncertainty is especially important for frequently traveling Hungarian passengers. A departure from Budapest, a Vienna alternative, a Zurich transfer, or a Western European return trip can each bring different rules. The more convenient technology is a real advantage, but in the coming years, a transitional, mosaic-like system should be expected. Therefore, the current passenger information of the given airport remains decisive at the security check.
Those who would spend a night in Zurich due to an early departure or late arrival may find it useful to look at accommodations around Zurich Airport, or upon city arrival, the Zurich airport transfer and taxi options. The new security system may promise a more convenient departure, but airport logistics, transport, and flight tracking remain part of the overall journey; it is also worth checking the ZRH online flight information before departure.
Practical tips for Hungarian travelers
- If you start your journey in Zurich, from June 26 you can count on the 2-liter liquid limit at the main security check.
- If you only transfer in Zurich, continue to prepare for the 100 milliliter liquid rule.
- If you returning from another airport, always check the rules of the given departure airport.
- Take double-walled bottles, such as thermoses, through the check only when empty.
- Do not automatically put analog photo film into the CT inspection; request a separate manual inspection.
- Remember that the Zurich liquid rule does not provide an exemption from airline carry-on baggage sizes and weight limits.
What does all this mean for the summer travel season?
The Zurich change is good news from the passenger experience perspective, especially in a summer season where queuing at airports, carry-on baggage rules, and transfer times influence many travelers' decisions. The larger liquid limit can reduce unnecessary packing, simplify the security check, and make departing from Zurich more convenient for those who do not want to purchase checked baggage just for a few larger bottles or gifts.
The most important conclusion is that liquid rules are not changing uniformly across Europe in the summer of 2026. Zurich is now taking a visible and passenger-friendly step, but the 100 milliliter limit continues to live on at many airports and in many transfer situations. Hungarian travelers should therefore think flexibly: for direct Zurich departures, they can benefit from the new relaxation, but for more complex routes, the old, stricter packing principle remains the safer choice.
If we interpret the rules this way, the Zurich decision is not just a carry-on baggage news item. Rather, it is a sign that European airport security checks are slowly, airport by airport, moving towards a more convenient model. The passenger will have a real advantage from this if they know exactly where the new system is valid and and where they still need to prepare with the accustomed 100 milliliter logic.