Travellers flying out of Zürich Airport can now carry liquid containers of up to 2 litres in their hand baggage, 20 times the previous limit, after new security rules took effect from Friday, 26 June 2026. The change, made possible by a CHF-investment in 26 next-generation CT scanners, marks the most significant overhaul of airport security procedures in two decades.
The old 100ml rule, in force across European airports since 2006, has been a source of passenger frustration for years, forcing travellers to decant toiletries into tiny bottles, surrender full water flasks, and stuff liquids into transparent plastic bags before every flight.
At Zürich’s Security Control Building, that ritual is now history.
How The New Technology Works
The upgrade, revealed in a PR on 22 June 2026, is built on computed tomography (CT) scanning, the same 3D imaging technology used in medical scanners. Unlike older 2D X-ray machines, CT scanners generate detailed three-dimensional images of bag contents, allowing security officers to detect solid and liquid explosives inside fully packed luggage without requiring passengers to remove anything.
Zürich Airport has installed 26 CT units across all departure screening lanes in the Security Control Building, completing a rollout that began in late 2025. Now, liquids and electronic devices such as laptops and tablets may remain inside bags at all screening lanes, no more juggling bags at the tray belt.
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What New Rules Mean In Practice At Zürich Airport
For local departing passengers — those beginning their journey in Zürich and screened in the Security Control Building — the new rules are as follows:
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Liquid containers of up to 2 litres are permitted in hand baggage
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No plastic bag required — liquids no longer need to be separated or presented separately
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Electronics stay in your bag — laptops, tablets, and phones need not be removed
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One exception: double-walled containers such as thermos flasks must be carried empty
The Important Catch: Transfer Passengers
The new rules do not apply to transfer passengers connecting through Zürich. The separate security checkpoints used for transfers have not yet been upgraded with CT technology, meaning the old 100ml limit and the transparent plastic bag requirement remain firmly in place for transiting travellers. Those passengers should continue to follow the standard European rules until further notice.
The old regulations also continue to apply at Geneva, Basel, and Bern airports, which have launched their own scanner upgrade tenders and are expected to follow Zürich’s lead in 2027.
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