(ZURICH, SWITZERLAND) — Zurich Airport has lifted the 100ml liquid restriction at security checkpoints equipped with its new CT scanners. Passengers can now carry liquids in containers of up to 2 litres through those lanes.

The upgrade follows the installation of 26 new 3D computed tomography scanners across the airport’s security area. Commercial operations with the new equipment began on June 16, 2026. The full CT scanner rollout was completed by June 22, 2026, making Zurich one of the few major European hubs to finish a complete deployment.

CT scanners rotate 360 degrees around each bag, producing a three-dimensional image that security officers can manipulate on screen. The technology allows officers to zoom in, rotate, and inspect contents from multiple angles without opening luggage. Passengers at equipped lanes no longer need to remove liquids, laptops, or large electronics from their carry-ons.

The 2-litre allowance replaces the 100ml cap that has governed international air travel since 2006. The old rule required all liquids to fit inside a single clear, resealable plastic bag. At CT-equipped checkpoints at Zurich Airport, that restriction no longer applies.

The new limit applies only at lanes where the new scanners operate. Travelers passing through older or non-CT checkpoints must still comply with the standard 100ml rule. Zurich Airport has not published a lane-by-lane map of which checkpoints carry the upgraded equipment. The completed rollout indicates most main security lanes now have CT capability.

Shampoo bottles, skincare products, and other toiletries in standard retail sizes can now travel in carry-on bags. Medical liquids and contact lens solutions above 100ml no longer require separate screening declarations at equipped lanes. Families traveling with baby food and formula also face fewer restrictions.

Zurich joins a growing list of European airports moving beyond the 100ml standard. Shannon Airport in Ireland was among the first in Europe to lift the restriction in 2022. Amsterdam Schiphol, Helsinki Airport, and London City Airport have deployed similar technology with comparable liquid policy changes. The European Union originally set a 2024 deadline for member-state airports to install CT scanners, though several countries missed that target.

In the United States, the Transportation Security Administration has been gradually installing CT scanners at major airports. The 3.4-ounce (100ml) liquid rule remains in effect nationwide regardless of scanner type. The TSA has not indicated when or whether the domestic liquid limit will change.

Zurich serves as the main hub for Swiss International Air Lines and a key transfer point for Star Alliance passengers connecting between Europe, Asia, and North America. The airport is Switzerland’s largest international gateway. Its role as a transfer hub means thousands of connecting passengers pass through its security checkpoints daily.

Connecting travelers arriving from airports that still enforce the 100ml rule should pack liquids according to the stricter standard on outbound journeys. On return connections through Zurich, larger containers become permissible at equipped security lanes. Transfer passengers who clear security at Zurich before their onward flight also benefit from the new allowance.

Duty-free purchases also become more flexible. Swiss duty-free shops at Zurich stock spirits up to 1 litre and larger formats for cosmetics and fragrances. The 2-litre ceiling accommodates most commercial products available airside. Passengers with layovers can buy bottles that would have been confiscated under the previous rule during a security recheck.

The security processing experience should improve noticeably. Eliminating the liquids bag and electronics removal steps typically reduces checkpoint time per passenger. The airport has not projected specific wait-time reductions. Lufthansa Group, Swiss’s parent company, has not announced changes to minimum connection times at Zurich.

If you are traveling through Zurich Airport this week, liquids up to 2 litres are now permitted in carry-on bags at CT-equipped lanes. Check the airport’s departure information screens for real-time checkpoint assignments before heading to security.