New state-of-the-art scanners for security screening Brussels Airport as of 2028

At Brussels Airport, passengers will no longer have to remove their liquids and electronics from their hand luggage during security screening in the future. The airport is investing in state-of-the-art body scanners and hand luggage scanners to provide passengers with a more convenient, efficient, and safe travel experience. The works start next year, and the first new scanners will be in use as of 2028. The entire security screening system at departure will be replaced in the course of 2029.

The security screening infrastructure at the airport will be completely revamped in the next few years. The passenger security screening system will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, including body scanners for passenger screening and CT scanners for hand luggage.

“The safety of our passengers and staff is always our top priority. With this new technology, we will not only continue to ensure safety, but also make security screening even smoother and easier for our passengers. With the new scanners, we will also increase capacity so that we are prepared for any growth in passenger numbers in the coming years,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.

Every departing passenger at Brussels Airport must pass through security screening. Today, passengers walk through a metal detector and their hand luggage goes through an X-ray scanner. Electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, must be removed from hand luggage and passengers are allowed to carry a maximum of 1 litre of liquids in containers no larger than 100 ml. The new CT scanners allow liquids and electronics to remain in the hand luggage and, under current European regulations, passengers may carry an unlimited amount of liquids in containers not exceeding 2 litres.

Phased approach with temporary screening platform

In June, a first test with a body scanner will take place. In the coming months, preparations and plans for the project will continue, aiming to begin building an additional temporary screening platform with the new technology in 2027. The first new scanners will be operational on this platform in 2028. Once this additional capacity is available, the current pre-departure security screening equipment will be replaced in phases. This will ensure that sufficient capacity is available at all times. ​

By summer 2029, all 19 screening lanes on departure are to be equipped with the new scanners. New scanners for transfer passengers screening will then be introduced in a later stage.

This revamp is part of Hub 3.0, the programme through which Brussels Airport is investing in the passenger experience and capacity at the airport, ensuring it remains a convenient, comfortable, and future-proof European hub.