Passengers departing from Zurich Airport can now enjoy a faster and more convenient security screening process after Switzerland’s largest airport completed the installation of next-generation computed tomography (CT) scanners across all departure security lanes.
From 26 June 2026, travellers beginning their journey in Zurich no longer need to remove laptops, tablets or liquids from their cabin baggage during security screening. They are also permitted to carry up to two litres of liquids in hand luggage, replacing the long-standing 100-millilitre restriction introduced across Europe following the 2006 transatlantic liquid explosives plot.
The rollout, completed by Flughafen Zürich AG ahead of the busy summer travel season, covers all 28 departure screening lanes. The new CT scanners create detailed three-dimensional images of cabin baggage, allowing security officers to inspect bags digitally from multiple angles without requiring passengers to unpack electronics or separate liquids.
According to the airport, testing of the technology showed that screening lanes processed passengers up to 40% faster than conventional systems, while average waiting times during busy morning departure periods were reduced by around half.
The new rules currently apply only to passengers who begin their journey in Zurich and pass through the airport’s main security checkpoint. Connecting passengers whose cabin baggage has not been re-screened at Zurich must still comply with the traditional 100 ml liquid restriction when travelling onward to destinations that have not yet introduced equivalent CT screening procedures.
Zurich becomes one of the first major European airports to fully implement the technology across all departure lanes, joining airports including London City Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol that have already introduced similar systems.
Other Swiss airports, including Basel-Mulhouse, Geneva and Bern, are expected to introduce CT security scanners progressively through 2027. Until their installations are completed, existing restrictions on liquids in hand luggage will remain in place.
The investment forms part of Zurich Airport’s wider strategy to modernise passenger processing while improving both security and traveller convenience during one of Europe’s busiest summer travel seasons.
