US Airports May Allow Larger Water Bottles After Security Scanner Upgrade

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering a significant change to airport security screening, potentially allowing passengers to carry larger bottles of water through checkpoints. This move is driven by the successful implementation of advanced CT scanners, which can create 3D images of baggage contents and analyze liquids.

Initially, this relaxation of the long-standing 3-1-1 liquid rule, which limits liquids to 100ml containers, would be tested for participants of the TSA PreCheck program in airports equipped with these new scanners. The TSA has not yet announced a launch date or the specific airports involved in the experiment. The change primarily concerns regular drinking water, not all liquids.

The current restriction on liquids was established in 2006 following the discovery of a terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. This measure, initially an emergency response, has remained a staple of aviation security for nearly two decades.

For Israeli travelers, the impact of this U.S. experiment will be limited, primarily affecting those flying domestically within the U.S. and enrolled in TSA PreCheck. The new rules do not automatically apply to Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, as security regulations are determined independently by each country. However, the technological advancements enabling this U.S. trial could provide a precedent for other countries to re-evaluate their own liquid restrictions.

This potential change in water bottle policy is part of broader shifts in U.S. aviation security. The TSA has already relaxed other post-9/11 rules, such as no longer requiring passengers to remove shoes during standard screening and testing programs that allow non-ticketed individuals to accompany passengers to the gate.