Hello miniature bottles and plastic bags! In some Italian airports — Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Turin and Bologna — the 100 ml rule is being relaxed in favor of a tolerance of up to two liters in the cabin, facilitated by new CT scanners.
Travelers gain in fluidity without sacrificing safety, even if this freedom is still limited to flights departing from these hubs and may vary depending on connections.
In mid-September 2025, a small earthquake shakes the queues: in several Italian airports, the 100 ml rule for liquids in the cabin is being eased. Thanks to new CT scanners, passengers departing from Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Turin, and Bologna can now take up to two liters of liquid products. The experience becomes smoother and safety is enhanced, even if limits remain in the case of connections or certain destinations like the United States and Israel. Meanwhile, in France, the devices already exist at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Orly, but the DGAC continues to conduct tests: the transparent plastic bag remains the travel companion of passengers.
We put away the choreography of mini-bottles and zip closures: in five strategic hubs, Italy says “enough!” to the shackles of 100 ml. Departing from Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Turin, and Bologna, it is now possible to carry up to two liters of liquids in the cabin. A small revolution that puts an end to one of the most tedious rituals of modern travel.
This change, formalized due to the installation of new controls, is part of a movement initiated elsewhere in Europe. The United Kingdom paved the way by deploying this technology as early as 2023, marking a major turning point after nearly twenty years of regulations born from liquid explosive alerts.
The technology that refreshes the queue: tomography at the service of passengers
The secret to this regained freedom? CT scanners based on computer-assisted tomography, capable of visualizing your cabin luggage in 3D. The result: less searching, more precision, and a significant time savings at security checks. Safety also benefits from improved detection of potential threats, without forcing travelers to play Tetris with their toiletries.
This progress comes at a price: these devices cost seven to eight times more than traditional scanners. Part of the bill is absorbed through airport taxes, which may slightly increase — “by a few cents,” subtly hints an executive at Rome-Fiumicino. A modest trade-off considering the comfort gained for millions of passengers.
So, what changes in your cabin bag?
No more acrobatics to fit your shampoo, sunscreen, and styling gel into a tiny bag. With the new rule, you can carry up to two liters of liquids in the cabin departing from equipped Italian airports. Your bottles can return to a normal size — as long as your itinerary remains consistent with the new policy at each stage.
A friendly reminder: “departing from” means just that… departing. If your journey involves a transfer to a non-equipped airport, you might be caught by the old 100 ml rule. The freedom is real, but it is especially enjoyed on direct flights and 100% compatible itineraries.
Connections and monitored destinations: a few pitfalls
This freedom remains limited to equipped airports and the related controls. In connections, as soon as you pass through a terminal that remains old-school, back to 100 ml you go. And for certain destinations — especially the United States and Israel — the well-known limit continues to apply in some cases, including at Rome-Fiumicino where not all dedicated posts for these flights have yet been modernized.
Practical translation: even if you are departing from a “new generation” Italian airport, a specific check of your flight may bring you back to the old procedure. Always check the guidance from your airline and the airport, especially for transatlantic and Middle Eastern flights.
France hits pause: devices present, rule unchanged
On the other side of the Alps, French travelers still have to deal with the trusty transparent plastic bag. Several major sites — including Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Orly — already have the machines, but they remain inactive. The DGAC is still conducting trials and validations: in the meantime, the 100 ml rule remains, and the toiletry bag continues to travel in mini format.
This cautious tempo aims to ensure a seamless commissioning when the time for the great transition comes. French airports are ready, but the switch has not yet been flipped.
A global context in turmoil: record traffic and new priorities
This Italian evolution is part of an aviation landscape in full swing. The record figures for 2024 in the tri-State region remind us that commercial aviation has returned to a sustained pace, while incidents like the system outage at United Airlines highlight the necessity of modernizing infrastructure, from the tarmac to security checks.
Everywhere, stakeholders are competing with innovations to enhance the passenger experience. Rankings highlight the best airport in America, while exceptional airports for 2025 are celebrated. And beyond Europe, the rise of new routes between Asian giants fuels other dynamics, such as the China-India air links, which redraw flows and investment priorities.
Quick tips to avoid unpleasant surprises
Before you free yourself from mini bottles, do a quick audit of your itinerary. If you are departing from an equipped Italian airport and flying on a direct flight, take advantage of the limit of two liters. In the case of a connection, check whether the transit airport still applies the 100 ml rule; if so, keep your liquid items in compatible containers, or place them in checked baggage.
For flights to the United States and Israel, check the recommendations of the airline and the departure terminal: some security posts remain under the old standard. And if you are traveling from France, stay the course: CDG and Orly have the machines, but as long as the DGAC hasn’t turned on the green light, transparent plastic bags and 100 ml containers remain the rule.
