Security Rules Eased at Dublin Airport
From midnight tonight, passengers at both terminals of Dublin Airport will no longer need to remove liquids, gels, or electronic items from their cabin baggage during security screening.
The old rule of 100 ml or less for liquids is also being relaxed. Departing passengers will now be allowed to carry up to 2 liters of liquids in their hand luggage, and liquids and gels will no longer need to be placed in transparent plastic bags.
This change has been made possible thanks to a multi-million euro investment by daa in scanning technology used to screen departing passengers and cabin baggage before flights.
Around 30 brand new, state-of-the-art “C3” scanners and body scanners have been deployed across the two terminals at Dublin Airport. The new C3 scanners use technology similar to hospital CT scanners to create 3D images of bags, making it easier to identify their contents.
Dublin Airport is one of the first airports in Europe to fully transition to C3, which offers the best threat detection technology currently available in the aviation sector.
The full transition to C3 operations at Dublin Airport was completed ahead of daa’s own target of October 2025 and before the regulatory deadline of 31 December 2025.
Additionally, a new secondary security screening area has been opened on the mezzanine floor in Terminal 1, equipped with three scanners, and available to passengers daily from 4 a.m. until early afternoon. Over time, this area will become home to a new dedicated Fast Track facility, while all other T1 passengers will pass through the regular security screening area downstairs.
According to Dublin Airport Managing Director Gary McLean:
“This is a very positive and welcome development for both passengers and staff. The new C3 scanners are best-in-class in terms of security detection standards and will significantly enhance the passenger experience, allowing travelers to keep all liquids and laptops inside their cabin bags. The systems work much like CT scanners in hospitals, generating 3D images of bags. The rollout of this new technology required a significant financial investment by daa and posed major operational challenges for the airport. Nevertheless, during the recent busy summer months—when we served a record 11 million passengers—security times remained smooth and efficient, with 96% of passengers clearing security in under 20 minutes. This investment puts Dublin Airport on par with the world’s leading airports in terms of having the best and most efficient screening technology.”
“I want to thank the Dublin Airport teams who worked tirelessly over the past two years to deploy the equipment. This successful installation and rollout further demonstrate daa’s absolute commitment to ensuring safety and security at our airports, while achieving this without disrupting passenger flows across our two busy terminals. At Terminal 1, the installation of the new scanners—larger and heavier than the ones they replaced—required significant restructuring work. Passengers have long been waiting for the day the 100 ml rule would be gone for good, and that day has arrived,” McLean added.
daa CEO Kenny Jacobs also stated:
“A safe and seamless security experience is the cornerstone of passenger service at any airport, which is why we’re working hard to make it excellent at both Cork and Dublin airports. We already have the best security teams at both airports, and it is vital that we also have the most advanced technology and the right operational standards.”
“Dublin Airport is one of the first airports of its size in Europe to offer this technology for every passenger. Installing nearly 30 scanners across two terminals, without causing any disruption to passengers during one of the busiest years in the airport’s history, was no small task, and I want to extend a huge thank you to the team who worked so hard over the past three years to achieve it.”
“Cork Airport will not be far behind; this month, construction will begin on a new mezzanine level extending above the existing Arrivals Hall. This new level will house a larger passenger security area equipped with the latest C3 scanning technology. This marks the first phase of daa’s €200 million capital investment to further improve Cork Airport for passengers.”
While Dublin Airport is now fully C3 operational, other airports in the UK and Europe are not as advanced. Therefore, passengers returning to Dublin are encouraged to check the liquid rules at their departing airport.
A Look at Dublin Airport’s Rule Changes:
What has changed?
Liquids, gels, and electronic items can remain inside cabin baggage during security screening.
There is no longer a restriction on the number of liquids and gels carried in cabin baggage.
The previous maximum limit of 100 ml no longer applies—up to 2 liters may now be carried.
Liquids and gels no longer need to be placed in transparent plastic bags.
What has stayed the same?
Belts, shoes above the ankle, jackets, hoodies, and bulky sweaters or cardigans must still be removed and placed in security trays.
Passengers must still remove all items from their pockets, including keys, wallets, and phones.
More information on airport security rules can be found on the Dublin Airport website. Passengers are advised to prepare for security before arriving at the airport and to be ready when it is their turn, to avoid unnecessary delays.
