What to expect when going through security at our airport
Before you enter the departure lounge, you need to go through the security cordon. As part of the required security checks, you will be asked to:
- Present your boarding pass to the security operative, who will check that it is valid.
- Take off all outerwear such as coats, boots, high heeled shoes, hats, scarves, gloves.and place these in the trays provided.
- Remove anything in your pockets, for example phone, coins, wallet, passport, and place these in the trays provided.
- Remove all large electronic items such as tablets, cameras, spare lithium batteries, hair dryers and straighteners from your bag(s) and place them in one of the trays provided. When placing these items in the trays you must make sure that they don’t overlap. If they do you will need to use more than one tray.
- Place any liquids, aerosols, pastes, and gels that are in a container of100ml or less, into a clear plastic bag which is available in the security cordon. The bag must not be knotted or tied at the top. This should be separate from your main bag(s) and placed in the tray. Each passenger may only carry one of these bags.
- Place your bag(s) flat within the tray.
The trays will then pass through our security screening equipment, and you will be asked to wait until a security operative calls you forward.
When called please make your way through to the body scanner. Follow the instructions of the security team on how to stand. The scan only takes a few seconds to produce an outline image to highlight any concealed objects. You have the option to request an alternative search method to the body scanner and anyone unable to physically stand in the body scanner will be screened using an alternative method.
The body scanner may also activate on a random basis. This is part of the regular testing that we must carry out to meet specific UK regulatory requirements. These requirements are the same at every UK airport. However, the equipment in place at our airport may vary from other airports. The equipment and different types of security checks in place at our airport meet the regulatory requirement for an airport of our size.
Changes to security procedures on 1 June 2024
Due to changes in regulations, from 1 June 2024, passengers are now able to:
- Leave all electronic devices in their hand baggage for screening.
Due to changes in regulations, passengers are now able to:
- Leave all electronic devices in their hand baggage for screening.
Please note that restrictions on carrying liquids over 100ml in hand luggage were reintroduced at HIAL airports at 00.01 on Sunday 9 June 2024. The Department for Transport made the decision to allow changes to be made to the X ray screening equipment. Read more here