US airports lift old taboo: the line may reach Israel
The US Transportation Security Administration is considering allowing passengers to carry full water bottles larger than 100 ml through security checkpoints using new CT scanners. Initially, the relaxation will be tested for TSA PreCheck members. This is relevant for Israeli travelers flying through the US, and the technology could eventually accelerate the revision of restrictions in other countries.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering allowing passengers to carry full water bottles larger than 100 ml through security checkpoints, provided modern screening systems can safely inspect their contents. Initially, the relaxation will be tested for TSA PreCheck members at airports equipped with new CT scanners. The potential change is driven by technological upgrades: new scanners create 3D models of bag contents, enabling detailed examination of suspicious items. According to Ynet, 1,162 such scanners are already installed in 296 US airports. The liquid restriction was introduced after British intelligence uncovered a terrorist plot in August 2006, where participants planned to disguise liquid explosive components as ordinary drinks. For Israelis, the changes in the US will have a limited effect initially, benefiting primarily those flying on domestic US flights with TSA PreCheck eligibility. The decision does not automatically apply to security checks at Ben-Gurion Airport, but the technological factor may outweigh the US experiment itself: if new scanners prove reliable, airports in other countries may have grounds to abandon the old restriction.