Zurich Airport Increases Hand Luggage Liquid Limit to 2 Liters: What Passengers Need to Know

From June 26, 2026, passengers starting their journey at Zurich Airport will be able to pass security checks with liquids in containers up to 2 liters in their hand luggage. This is a significant practical change for tourists and business travelers, but it is not a universal cancellation of the 100 ml rule: for transfer passengers and some special procedures, the old restrictions remain in effect for now.

Zurich Airport announced that the new rule will take effect on Friday, June 26, after the completion of a key stage of modernization of the central security control zone. This applies to passengers departing directly from Zurich and passing through the Security Control Building. For them, liquids and electronics will no longer need to be removed from hand luggage on all lines in this building, and a separate transparent bag for liquids will become unnecessary.

For travelers, this is one of the most noticeable changes in the usual airport security procedure in recent years. The 100 ml rule has long been one of the most inconvenient restrictions for air passengers: it forced them to decant cosmetics into small bottles, buy travel kits, throw away water before security, and plan luggage around a small plastic bag. New CT scanners are gradually changing this logic, but Zurich's experience also shows that passengers need to look carefully at where exactly their route begins and through which airports they return.

What Exactly Will Change from June 26

The main change concerns local passengers, meaning those starting their journey in Zurich. They will be able to carry liquids in containers with a volume up to 2 liters in their hand luggage. This can be water, drinks, shampoo, gel, cream, perfume, or other permitted liquid and paste-like products, provided they do not pose a risk according to aviation security rules.

Also, passengers will no longer need to place liquids in a separate transparent bag or remove electronic devices from their bags or suitcases during standard checks. New scanners create a three-dimensional image of hand luggage, allowing security staff to evaluate the contents of the luggage without the old procedure of arranging items in trays.

This does not mean that security checks will become a formality. Items that raise doubt may be checked additionally, and dangerous items remain prohibited. However, for most passengers, the process should become faster, simpler, and less stressful: fewer actions in the security zone, less risk of forgetting a laptop or cosmetics in a tray, and fewer minor losses due to a bottle of water or a large bottle of sunscreen.

Who the New Rule Will Not Help

The most important nuance: the new limit does not apply to everyone at Zurich Airport. The airport specifically emphasizes that transfer zones and some special processes are not yet equipped with the new CT technology. Therefore, passengers transferring in Zurich and having to pass security checks again must rely on the old rule: liquids only in containers up to 100 ml, in a transparent bag with a volume up to 1 liter.

This is especially important for those flying complex routes through several countries. For example, if a tourist departs directly from Zurich, the new rule may allow them to take larger bottles into the cabin. But if on the return journey the passenger passes security in another airport, the old 100 ml limit may apply there. Similarly, a large bottle purchased or brought from home may become a problem during a transfer if the transit airport requires a re-check of hand luggage.

The practical conclusion is simple: the new rules should be viewed as an advantage specifically for departures from Zurich, rather than a general European cancellation of restrictions. Before the trip, it is necessary to check the rules of each airport on the route, especially if the ticket involves transfers or separate segments with different airlines.

Why the Airport Was Able to Increase the Limit

The change became possible thanks to the modernization of security control at Zurich Airport. At the end of 2025, the airport began the phased installation of CT scanners in the Security Control Building. According to the previous plan, all 26 security lines were to switch to the new technology by the summer of 2026. Now the airport reports that the project has entered its final phase and from June 26, no conventional equipment for checking hand luggage will remain in this building.

CT scanners differ from traditional X-ray systems in that they allow baggage to be analyzed in a three-dimensional format. This helps to more accurately evaluate complex items, liquids, and electronics. For passengers, the technical detail turns into a very clear everyday benefit: the bag does not need to be unpacked, and large liquids are not confiscated automatically just because of their volume.

At the same time, the airport leaves several important warnings. Double-walled bottles, such as thermoses, can only be taken through security if they are empty, because their design makes it difficult to reliably determine the contents. Analog photo film is also recommended to be shown to staff in advance and a manual check requested, as CT scanners may damage it.

What This Means for Tourists

For tourists departing from Switzerland after a vacation, the new rule removes some of the minor but very noticeable restrictions. One can more calmly plan the purchase of cosmetics, thermal water, local liquid products or drinks, provided they comply with general security and airline rules. For families with children, this also adds flexibility, although baby food and medical liquids already had separate exceptions.

For passengers who frequently fly with only hand luggage, the change may be particularly useful. Previously, some items automatically required checked baggage or the abandonment of full-size packaging. Now traveling with a small suitcase through Zurich Airport (ZRH) will become more convenient, if the route starts exactly there and does not include a repeat security check at an airport with old rules.

For business travelers, the effect is also obvious: less time preparing for security, fewer manipulations with laptops, chargers, cosmetics, or documents, and less risk of delaying the queue due to the need to repack the bag. However, the airport advises not to reduce the time buffer before the flight. Recommended arrival times remain unchanged, as even more modern equipment does not eliminate peak loads, additional checks, and possible operational delays.

How to Prepare for Departure from Zurich

Before the trip, it is worth checking not only the hand luggage rules but also the flight status. For this, you can use the Zurich Airport online board, especially on days of high summer demand. If the departure is early or the route involves a long journey to the terminal, it is useful to evaluate hotels near Zurich Airport in advance, and for independent travel after arrival - options for car rental in ZRH or transfer from Zurich Airport.

Passengers departing with large liquids should keep them in their hand luggage in such a way that they can be quickly shown in case of an additional check. Thermoses should not be filled before passing security. Photographers carrying film should not wait for the baggage to enter the scanner but immediately ask staff for a separate inspection. Those returning through other airports should not buy large liquids for hand luggage without checking the rules of the next security point.

Why the Change is Important for European Airports

Zurich's decision fits into a wider trend: major European airports are gradually switching to modern hand luggage screening systems. For the passenger, this looks like a daily convenience, but for the airport and aviation security, it is a complex infrastructural project. It is necessary to install expensive equipment, train staff, rebuild security lines, coordinate procedures, and undergo certification.

That is why rules in different airports may differ for a long time. One hub allows liquids up to 2 liters, another keeps 100 ml, a third has new scanners only on some lines. For the travel market, this means a transition period in which the best strategy for the passenger is not to rely on a general impression, but to check the specific airport of departure, transfer, and return.

For Zurich, this strengthens its position as a convenient European hub. The airport already has a strong role in routes between Switzerland, Europe, North America, and Asia, and comfortable security control can become an additional factor in the perception of quality of travel. This does not change ticket prices directly, but affects how predictable and less exhausting the journey will be.

Conclusion

Increasing the liquid limit to 2 liters at Zurich Airport is good news for passengers starting their journey at ZRH. It simplifies hand luggage, reduces the need for plastic bags, and makes security control less cumbersome. But the main rule for travelers remains unchanged: check the entire route, not just the first airport. If the journey includes a transfer or return through another hub, the old 100 ml restriction may become relevant again.

Therefore, the new Zurich rules should be used as a convenience, but not as a reason to completely forget about liquid restrictions. For a direct departure from Zurich, this is a noticeable step forward. For complex international routes - another item on the checklist before the trip.