Spain’s airports to make major security change affecting UK tourists | Travel News | Travel
UK holidaymakers flying to Spain in 2024 will see a big change at airport security. Three of Spain’s busiest airports are getting new tech to make things quicker for travellers.
Tourists won’t need to take out liquids and electronics from their hand luggage at security anymore. This new kit is being installed at Madrid, Barcelona and Palma airports.
Spain is the UK’s top holiday spot, with over 15 million Britons visiting in 2022. The change will affect tourists flying out of Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat and Palma de Mallorca airports.
Airport operator Aena hopes the new gear will cut down queues and speed up wait times during the busy summer season.
Spanish news outlets say it will be ready sometime this year, but an exact date hasn’t been given.
UK airports are also getting new security scanners, but some big ones like Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester won’t be ready by the Government’s June deadline.
Smaller airports like London City and Teesside have already ditched the 100ml liquids rule thanks to the new tech.
Birmingham Airport hopes to have its new scanners working by June. Until then, travellers will still need to take out all liquids, aerosols, gels and laptops from their hand luggage. Liquids up to 100ml each must be shown in clear plastic bags until the upgrades are done.
The director of Mallorca’s Palma Airport, Tomás Melgar, said in 2022: “The airport will be equipped with more modern technology in terms of safety and quality, meaning passengers will not have to remove items from their hand luggage, including liquids or electronic devices, such as computers.”
Experts at Sgmlegalspain explained: “All these changes are thanks to new 3D scanners and enhanced x-ray technology, which can accurately detect everything in greater detail inside your bag, and they are currently being rolled out across the world.
“In addition to the elimination of the restriction of liquids with the new scanners, AENA is also preparing for improvements in the control of hold luggage, the automation of hand luggage management and the implementation of new biometric control systems.”