Heathrow has completed a landmark £1 billion technology upgrade that promises to make security faster, smoother and far less stressful for passengers across all terminals.

Travellers passing through the UK’s busiest airport no longer need to remove liquids or large electronics from their hand luggage, nor wrestle with plastic bags at security checkpoints. Heathrow has officially become the largest airport in the world to fully deploy next-generation CT security scanners, marking a major shift in how passengers move through the airport.

The multi-year investment has seen every passenger security lane across Heathrow’s four terminals upgraded with advanced CT scanners. The technology produces highly detailed 3D images of cabin baggage, allowing security staff to assess items more quickly and accurately, while maintaining rigorous safety standards. As a result, each lane can process thousands of passengers per hour, significantly reducing bottlenecks during peak travel times.

For passengers, the change is immediately noticeable. With less preparation required at security, queues move faster and the overall experience feels calmer and more intuitive. The airport estimates the new system will eliminate the need for nearly 16 million single-use plastic bags each year, delivering a meaningful environmental benefit alongside operational gains.

The rollout represents a major milestone in Heathrow’s long-term transformation programme, which aims to future-proof the airport as passenger numbers continue to grow. It follows a strong year of performance across the operation. In 2024, Heathrow was named Europe’s most punctual hub airport, with more than 97% of passengers waiting under five minutes at security.

Operational reliability has also improved behind the scenes. Baggage performance exceeded a 98% load rate in 2025, putting an additional 250,000 bags onto their intended flights compared with the previous year. Combined with its status as the world’s most connected hub airport, the upgrades underline Heathrow’s push to deliver more reliable, efficient journeys for both passengers and airlines.

With the new security technology now fully in place, Heathrow says it is better equipped than ever to handle future demand — while offering travellers a faster, more seamless start to their journey.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “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. 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." Photo by Ed Webster, Wikimedia commons.