By Naomi Desouza
Birmingham Airport passengers can now take two-litre containers of liquids through security gates in a major and long-awaited rule change. Passengers had previously only been allowed to carry liquids of up to 100ml through. The airport’s plan to introduce the two-litre allowance as part of its “state-of-the-art” security hall upgrade was initially scuppered last year due to a government rule change. READ MORE: West Midlands schools providing free uniforms as parents say ‘what a relief’ In June 2024, Birmingham Airport’s chief executive Nick Barton admitted to BirminghamLive that last-minute government changes to liquid rules for carry-on hand luggage had been “painful.” He said the brakes had been slammed on rolling out the two-litre liquid allowance after a Government directive landed on his desk, insisting passengers could only carry liquids, pastes and gels up to 100ml in their hand luggage. The airport had anticipated that, by June 1 2024, the two-litre rule would come into play, easing near 20-year restrictions on liquids. But since the directive, passengers have been required to stick to 100ml restrictions. At that same time, building works were being completed, restricting indoor space and prompting pictures of queues snaking outside the terminal last summer. Now, with queues seemingly much better, the liquid restrictions change will be welcome news to holidaymakers ahead of the school summer holiday rush. Latest figures issued by the airport revealed a record 1,360,957 passengers travelled through the airport in June 2025. All Birmingham Airport passengers will now be permitted to travel with liquids in containers of up to two liquids, pastes and gels in their hand luggage. All liquids should remain packed in bags, and they do not need to be in a plastic bag. Delighted airport bosses said the long-awaited easing of liquid restrictions meant they could fully utilise “industry-leading next-generation security machinery.” There are no limits on how many two-litre containers can be carried and these do not need to be in plastic bags. However the announcement came with the warning that the liquid rule change is for outbound travel from Birmingham Airport only, meaning passengers may have to stick to the 100ml rule on their return, depending on their deprarture airport’s security rules. Al Titterington, terminal operations director of Birmingham Airport said: 鈥淛une has been another record month with more passengers choosing to travel through Birmingham Airport. “This uptick in passengers coincides with our on-going investment into enhancing our customer experience at the airport including a full reconfiguration of our immigration area in the south terminal and the addition of new airside shopping and dining options. “In June, we also welcomed the long-awaited easing of liquid restrictions meaning that we can now fully utilise our industry-leading next-generation security machinery and allow passengers to travel outbound with up to two litres of liquids. As we continue into our peak season, we look forward to welcoming even more customers through Birmingham Airport.鈥 A Birmingham Airport spokesperson confirmed to BirminghamLive on July 7: 鈥淏irmingham Airport now allows passengers to travel with up to two litres of liquids, following a change in rules made by the Government. Passengers can now carry liquid, paste and gel bottles up to two litres each in their hand luggage without the need to take them out their bags. 鈥淭his change will enable a faster and more efficient processing of hand luggage, following the 拢60 million investment in equipment and infrastructure made last year. We are pleased passengers can now benefit from this change in ruling, made by the Government in time for the summer peak.鈥