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TRAVEL NEWS

What return of liquid limits at airports means for travel in Spain

After news that the European Commission will temporarily reintroduce limits on liquids in hand luggage at certain airports around Europe, many are wondering what this means for travellers in Spain.

Published: 13 August 2024 13:10 CEST
Updated: 17 August 2024 08:01 CEST
What return of liquid limits at airports means for travel in Spain
EU limits on liquids for air travel have been in place in Spain and the EU since 2006. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP)

The European Commission (EC) recently announced that it will temporarily reintroduce limits to liquids carried in hand luggage at some airports around Europe.

For the last several years travellers around Europe have been looking forward to being rid of pesky hand luggage restrictions on liquids and electronic devices across all airports. In Spain, some airports have already spent millions on new high-tech scanners and were even beginning to phase them in to be able to scrap the rules.

However, following the EC decision, in certain airports the 100ml limit will now actually be reintroduced on liquids, aerosols, and gels (known as LAGs).

This comes after concerns emerged about the reliability of new EDSCB scanners installed in airports around the continent.

In a press note the EC states: “The European Commission will temporarily enforce restrictions on liquid screening at EU airports utilising Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB). 

“These systems, installed in certain EU airports, currently allow passengers to carry liquid containers exceeding 100ml.”

READ ALSO: In detail: Who is exempt from Europe’s EES passport checks?

What does this mean for travellers?

Basically, if you’re travelling through an airport that has already installed the new EDSCB scanners, you’ll soon need to abide by the old rules on carrying liquids in hand luggage.

If you travel through airports that are yet to install them, nothing changes.

What about electronic devices?

The other time-saving benefit of these new EDSCB scanners is that you no longer need to take out your electronic devices from your hand luggage.

According to the latest EC information available, the temporary rule change will not affect this.

When does this change come into effect?

From September 1st 2024. Per the EC statement: “Effective from 1 September 2024, the maximum allowed size for individual liquid containers will revert to the standard 100ml for airports operating this type of equipment.”

Airports that already limit liquids to 100ml or that have not deployed EDSCB equipment will not be affected by this change.

Why are they doing this?

The EC claims this is a “precautionary measure” due to a technical issue and not due to a heightened security risk.

This is according to a decision taken by the Airports Council International (ACI) when it was revising EU Aviation Security Regulations, which has introduced severe restrictions on the use of these new sorts of scanners.

Due to their state-of-the-art technology they previously allowed travellers around Europe to carry liquids in their hand luggage without the 100ml restriction, but the technical measure means this has been scrapped for now.

Why are there limits on liquids in airports?

EU Aviation Security Regulations limits liquids, aerosols, and gels to 100ml. This is because traditional security equipment cannot detect liquid explosives effectively.

However, there are often exceptions made for medicines and baby products.

What does this mean for Spain?

It depends where you’re travelling from.  According to Aena, Spain’s airport network, the new scanners have so far only been installed at Madrid’s Barajas and Barcelona’s El Prat airports, where they have been undergoing trial periods over the summer. 

This means that, from September 1st, liquids will be limited to 100ml there as before.

If you’re going through security at other Spanish airports, nothing will change for now and you’ll be limited to 100ml liquids in your carry on luggage, as you would’ve been before anyway.

Spanish media reports suggest that by the end of 2024 they will also be installed at Palma de Mallorca airport, before expanding to the rest of the airports in Spain.

However, though the EC describes the reintroduction of this liquid limit rules as “temporary”, it is unclear how long the rules will be in place for. 

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TRAVEL NEWS

Your questions answered on the UK’s new £10 entry fee for European travellers

From next year, European travellers visiting the UK will be required to pay a £10 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in order to enter. The Local answers your questions on what that means for people living in the EU or EEA, including EU spouses and dual nationals.

Published: 13 September 2024 12:10 CEST
Your questions answered on the UK's new £10 entry fee for European travellers

The UK has introduced an electronic travel authorisation scheme known as ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for people paying short visits such as tourists of those visiting family members.

The ETA – which costs £10, lasts for two years and must be applied for online in advance of your trip – is already in place for citizens of some countries, but in the spring of 2025 it will be expanded to include EU and EEA citizens such as French, German or Swiss nationals.

You can find full details of the scheme and how it works here.

The UK government information is largely geared towards tourists, and readers of The Local had questions – especially on how the changes affect people with residency in an EU or EEA country, on the position for EU spouses of a UK national and the changes for dual nationals.

Does this affect Brits who are resident in an EU/EEA country?

This system all depends on the passport you are travelling on, not where you live or whether you have a residency permit for another country.

So in short if you are travelling on your UK passport, you will be treated like every other Brit and won’t need an ETA. If you are a dual national, it depends on the passport you are travelling on (more on that below).

However Brits who have an EU partner or spouse (who don’t have a British passport) should be aware that the changes will apply to their spouse.

Does this limit stays in the UK for EU citizens who are married to a Brit?

ETA, like the EU’s new EES biometric passport checks and ETIAS visa waiver, does not change any of the existing rules around immigration or long-stay visas.

At present, citizens of a number of countries – including all EU/EEA countries and a number of non-EU countries such as the USA and Canada – benefit from visa-free travel to the UK for short visits. Those people can stay in the UK for up to 180 days per year without needing a visa, although they cannot work in the UK.

This category would cover tourists and people making short visits to family. Anyone who wants to stay longer than 180 days in a year, or who wants to work in the UK, would need a visa or to apply for residency through other routes such as the EU Settled Status scheme. This includes EU nationals who have a British spouse.

What changes under ETA is that the people making short stays will no longer benefit from visa-free travel – instead they must apply online for the ETA visa before travel.

Those who wish to stay longer or to work in the UK must apply for the relevant visa or residency permit type, exactly as they do now.

What about Irish passport holders?

The exception to these rules is for people travelling on an Irish passport. Because of the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland, those travelling on an Irish passport will not be required to get an ETA, and in fact nothing changes for them.

The exemption only applies if you are using your Irish passport to travel – if you have an Irish passport but are using another non-UK passport to travel you will be treated according to the passport you present. 

Likewise, UK nationals are also exempt from the requirement – but only if they are using their UK passport to travel.

Do children need an ETA?

Yes, everyone entering the UK will need an ETA, including children and babies. The travel authorisation costs £10 for everyone – unlike the EU’s ETIAS, there is no cost exemption for over 70s or under 18s.

Do I need an ETA as an airline transit passenger? That seems mad if I’m only passing through the airport?

Yes, an ETA is required for everyone, even if you’re only passing through a UK airport as part of a connecting flight. This has sparked fury from the UK’s ‘hub’ airports such as Heathrow, where bosses say the change could cost them up to 4 million passengers a year.

The government says: “Requiring transit passengers to obtain an ETA stops people who may use connecting flights to avoid gaining permission to travel to the UK.”

What about dual nationals?

The key thing for dual nationals to remember is that your passports are not ‘linked’ – so the immigration official that you present your passport to has no way of knowing that you also have the passport of another country.

Dual nationals are therefore treated according to the passport they present. So let’s say you have a UK passport and an Italian one – if you travel to the UK on the UK passport, you will not need an ETA. However if you travel on the Italian passport you will need an ETA.

It is perfectly legal to use two passports while making a trip, so that you can enter the UK showing your UK passport and then on your return to Italy show the Italian passport – this allows you to avoid the formalities for foreigners in both countries. If you are doing this, you will just need to take care when supplying Advance Passenger Information (API) to your travel provider that you are supplying the right information for the passport that you will be using for each leg of the journey.

When does this start?

The ETA requirement is already in place for citizens of certain countries and then will continue the roll-out in two subsequent stages.

Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates already need an ETA to enter the UK. From January 8th 2025 it will be extended to citizens of all non-EU/non-EEA countries and then from April 2nd it will be required for all EU/EEA citizens (with the exception of Ireland). Find the full list of countries here.

How do I get the ETA?

You apply and pay online before you travel – the UK government says that applications should be processed within three working days but that some could take longer. You cannot enter the UK until your application is processed.

Once issued, the ETA lasts for two years and allows multiple trips – although if your passport is renewed during that two-year period you will have to apply for a new ETA.

Find full details of how to apply here.

Why is the UK doing this?

It’s a security measure and is part of the UK’s plan to digitise its borders. The scheme is intended to reduce queues at the border, “helping to speed up legitimate journeys to the UK”, a government spokesman said.

It is very similar to the EU’s ETIAS visa waiver – due to come into effect in the spring of 2025 – and the US’s ESTA visa, which has been required for all visitors since 2009.

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