Important changes for travelers at Vilnius and Kaunas airports: during aviation security checks - all items and liquids can remain inside luggage

This opportunity to travel even more comfortably was determined by innovative and advanced technological solutions of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU), investments in the latest security scanners that are already in operation, and a decision adopted by the European Commission (EC) at the end of July, which paved the way for the relaxation of rules for transporting liquids.

According to LTOU representatives, Vilnius and Kaunas airports are the first in the Baltic region to start applying this new procedure for transporting liquids.

Liquids will be allowed in containers up to 2 liters.

According to the EC decision, passengers can carry containers with liquids up to 2 liters in their hand luggage. The type or shape of the liquid containers is not important. It is important for passengers to remember that the total weight and volume of hand luggage are determined by the airlines, therefore passengers should also assess the restrictions on luggage applied by the air carrier.

"The impact of the solution on the better passenger experience at the airport will be significant, simply put, when a person comes to the aviation security check - they will no longer have to take anything out of their luggage, saving time and reducing stress. Every passenger will be able to feel the benefits of modern technologies for more comfortable and faster travel. The latest generation of computed tomography scanners are used for security check procedures in Vilnius and Kaunas ports, which we were the first to install in the Baltic States. German "Smiths Detection" security check equipment fully meets high security standards and allows electronics and liquids, as well as all other items in suitcases, bags or backpacks, to be analyzed in three-dimensional space without even removing them," says Vidas Kšanas, Head of the Safety and Security Department of Lithuanian Airports (LTOU).

"We all know what it means to rush at the airport and worry about whether you have lost anything during the check. From now on, there will be no more worries in Vilnius and Kaunas - the check will become faster and more convenient for every traveler, because you will no longer have to take liquids out of your hand luggage. I am glad that we are the first in the Baltic States to invest in the most advanced security technologies. I hope that progress will be felt not only in statistics, but from the first steps in the terminal," says Juras Taminskas, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications.

According to V. Kšanas, the investments made by LTOU in advanced technologies back in 2022-2023 allowed it to fully prepare for these changes and immediately offer passengers more convenience and speed. He emphasizes that the latest EC decision opens up opportunities to further accelerate the process of checking passengers' hand luggage at Vilnius and Kaunas airports and serve more people during the same period - which is particularly important for airports in the long term, as they receive a rapidly growing number of travelers in Lithuania.

The previous procedure will still be relevant when traveling at other airports.

It is recalled that until now, the procedure was that liquids carried in hand luggage had to be in containers no larger than 100 ml, which had to be placed in a separate 1-liter bag, and during the aviation security check, liquids had to be removed from hand luggage. This security check procedure remains in force at other European airports, mostly smaller ones, including Palanga Airport, where the latest scanners that allow checking liquids without removing them from travel bags have not been installed.

V. Kšanas, Head of the Safety and Security Department of LTOU, admits that many, especially larger European airports, have been waiting for the EC's decision on the liberalization of the transport of liquids, because this technological innovation allows for a reduction in screening time while ensuring the highest security standards.

The LTOU representative notes that the implementation of third-generation (C3) three-dimensional computed tomography scanners is a rapidly expanding aviation security practice across Europe. However, not all airports in Europe have the most modern screening equipment, so passengers are invited to pay attention to whether similar (less stringent) screening of liquids will be applied, for example, when departing from another airport back to Lithuania.

Information about Lithuanian airports https://www.ltou.lt/lt/ziniasklaidai/naujienos-1/vilniaus-ir-kauno-oro-uostuose-svarbus-pokyciai-keliautojams-aviaciojes-saugumo-patikroje-visi-daiktai-ir-skysciai-gali-likti-bagazo-viduje