Summary:
- Heathrow becomes the world’s largest airport to fully roll-out next-generation CT security scanners, enabling passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their hand luggage across all terminals.
- A £1 billion investment delivers faster, more efficient security screening, reducing queue times, easing peak-period pressure, and supporting a smoother, lower-stress passenger journey while maintaining high security standards.
- CT technology supports sustainability and operational excellence, eliminating up to 16 million single-use plastic bags annually and contributing to industry-leading performance across security wait times and baggage reliability.
Heathrow – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has become the largest airport in the world to fully roll-out next-generation CT security scanners. This means that passengers travelling through all terminals at Heathrow no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from their hand luggage. The technology also promises faster queues, less stress and a smoother start to journeys for travellers.
The £1 billion upgrade has seen passenger security lanes across all four of Heathrow’s terminals replaced with state-of-the-art CT scanners, capable of servicing thousands of passengers an hour with significantly greater efficiency, while maintaining high safety and security standards.
The new technology allows passengers to move through checkpoints more quickly by providing even better images of cabin baggage, cutting preparation time and easing pressure during peak travel periods. It is also estimated to save almost 16 million plastic bags per year, which will no longer need to be used.
“Every Heathrow passenger can now leave their liquids and laptops in their bags at security as we become the largest airport in the world to roll out the latest security scanning technology,” said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye. “That means less time preparing for security and more time enjoying their journey – and millions fewer single-use plastic bags. This billion-pound investment means our customers can be confident they will continue to have a great experience at Heathrow.”
The transformation marks a major milestone in Heathrow’s long-term investment programme, designed to deliver a world-class passenger experience and prepare the airport for future growth and increased capacity. Last year, over 97% of Heathrow passengers waited less than five minutes for security. Meanwhile, baggage performance improved to over 98% load rate in 2025, putting an extra quarter of a million bags on their intended flights compared to 2024, meaning smoother, more reliable journeys across the year for passengers and airlines.
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