By: Stuart Kerr, Travel Correspondent
Published: 07/09/2025 · Updated: 07/09/2025
Contact: editorial@holidaymate.com
The 100-ml liquid rule has been the bane of air travellers’ lives for nearly two decades. Born in the wake of 2006 security scares, it forced passengers to decant shampoo, toothpaste, and even water into tiny bottles, all packed into clear plastic bags. Queues at airport security grew longer, stress levels rose, and thousands of litres of liquids were discarded every day. But in 2025, Kraków Airport has become the first in Poland—and one of the leaders in Europe—to consign the rule to history.
A First for Poland
Earlier this month, Kraków Airport officially scrapped the 100-ml restriction for liquids in hand luggage. As Notes from Poland reports, passengers can now carry liquids of up to two litres in their bags, thanks to the installation of advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners. Ten of the devices have been rolled out, providing technology that effectively “digitally unpacks” baggage during screening.
Unlike traditional x-ray machines, CT scanners create detailed 3D images, allowing staff to rotate and analyse luggage contents without requiring passengers to remove items. Think Europe explains that this not only lifts the liquid restriction but also means electronics—laptops, tablets, and cameras—no longer need to be taken out. Early estimates suggest queue times are down by around 30%.
A Broader European Shift
Kraków’s move is part of a wider transformation happening across Europe. Countries including the UK, Ireland, and Spain have been trialling CT scanners for years, but progress has been uneven. As Travel Market Report notes, only airports with the financial capacity to install CT systems are able to relax the liquid rule. That leaves a patchwork across the continent: one airport may allow a bottle of wine through security, while the next may still confiscate it.
Nonetheless, Kraków’s rollout is significant. As Poland’s second-largest airport, handling nearly ten million passengers a year, it sets a precedent for the rest of Central and Eastern Europe. Officials are already suggesting that Warsaw Chopin Airport could follow suit in 2026, once procurement and installation processes are completed.
Passenger Experience Transformed
The impact for travellers is immediate and tangible. No more carefully measuring toiletries into 100-ml bottles. No more clear plastic bags. Families can carry baby food and formula without exemptions. Business travellers can breeze through without dismantling their cabin baggage. The scanners mean faster, smoother lines and far less stress at one of the most painful points of the journey.
It also fits into a broader shift towards more comfortable, human-centred travel. Just as Europe has seen a night train revival, airports are realising that the travel experience itself matters. Long queues and arbitrary restrictions are increasingly out of step with a tourism industry that values convenience and passenger satisfaction.
Security and Sustainability
Critics might worry that scrapping the 100-ml rule reduces safety. In fact, CT scanners are more secure than older x-ray machines. Their 3D imaging allows for detailed checks that far surpass the blunt instrument of liquid limits. Security experts argue that, if anything, the new system enhances passenger screening while removing an unpopular rule.
There is also a sustainability benefit. The 100-ml rule led to millions of bottles being thrown away every year at airport checkpoints. Removing the restriction reduces waste, aligns with airports’ green policies, and cuts the costs of managing discarded liquids.
The Future of Airport Security
Kraków’s breakthrough raises questions about the timeline for broader change. Will the European Union mandate CT scanners across all major hubs? Will smaller regional airports be left behind, creating confusion for travellers? As with many innovations, the transition period could be messy. But the long-term direction is clear: the 100-ml rule is on its way out.
For passengers, the benefits will be immediate. And for Europe’s tourism sector, which continues to adapt to shifting expectations as we noted in Travel in 2025: Why Europe Is Bracing, the message is simple: smoother, faster, more humane travel is the future.
Looking Ahead
Kraków’s adoption of CT technology may seem like a technical upgrade, but it represents something larger. It’s about rethinking the contract between airports and passengers—replacing suspicion and inconvenience with trust and efficiency. It could mark the beginning of the end of one of aviation’s most unpopular rules.
For now, travellers passing through Kraków can enjoy a taste of what may soon become the European norm: less time in line, fewer plastic bags, and the freedom to carry a bottle of water—or even a litre of Żubrówka vodka—through security without a second thought.
About the Author
Stuart Kerr is a travel correspondent for Holidaymate.com, specialising in European slow travel, island escapes, and sustainable tourism. Contact him at editorial@holidaymate.com.
Read more about Stuart here →
