Orio al Serio Airport and liquids: the new rules

As of December 2025, Milan Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (BGY) has updated its rules for carrying liquids in hand luggage thanks to the introduction of new computed tomography (CT) scanners.

Now at Orio al Serio Airport you are allowed to carry containers of up to 2 liters each, without having to take them out of your carry-on suitcase or backpack.

You read that right: you no longer need to use the 1-liter transparent bag!

All types of liquids are allowed (gels, drinks, perfumes, toothpaste, shaving foam, etc.) within the stated limit.

You may be wondering why there used to be such strict restrictions on liquids on planes and why the situation has now changed. If so, this article is written for you!

Liquids in hand luggage: why was the limit so low?

The 100 ml per container limit (with a 1-liter transparent bag) was introduced in 2006, following an intelligence operation that radically changed airport security rules.

Terrorists were planning to bring on board liquid explosives hidden in ordinary bottles, using highly unstable chemical substances that, at the time, could not be detected by security systems based on traditional X-rays and metal detectors.

The restriction on liquids was meant to drastically reduce the risk: by limiting the quantity and requiring easily inspectable containers, it lowered the likelihood that a single passenger could carry enough material to build a bomb on board.

For nearly two decades, the rule “100 ml per container + 1 L bag + separate liquids” represented the compromise between safety and practicality, but it reduced convenience and slowed airport security checks.

Why has the liquids limit on planes changed?

The 100 ml limit has been overcome thanks to the introduction of new computed tomography (CT) scanners, installed in the Orio al Serio departures terminal in November 2025.

These next-generation devices analyze baggage in 3D, accurately distinguishing the density and chemical composition of liquids without opening containers.

Thanks to advanced algorithms, CT systems automatically recognize dangerous substances and allow harmless liquids such as water, perfumes, or gels to pass through.

With this technology, it has become safe to carry containers of up to 2 liters, without taking them out of your carry-on and without using the transparent bag.

The new system also reduces the risk of false positives and makes airport checks faster and more efficient.

For frequent travelers, this change is a real relief: no one will be stopped at security for having forgotten a small bottle of water in their carry-on bag anymore!

What changes for passengers at Orio al Serio?

With the new CT scanners, passengers can carry containers of up to 2 liters without taking them out of their baggage.

No more 1-liter transparent bag is needed. All liquids can remain in your carry-on suitcase or backpack during security checks.

This change makes passing through security faster and simpler, with shorter lines and less stress.

Why hasn’t the new liquids limit been adopted everywhere yet?

Even though at Orio al Serio passengers can carry liquids up to 2 liters, this rule is not yet valid everywhere.

The main reason is the technological and regulatory gap between airports.

Only airports equipped with CT EDS-CB Standard C3 scanners can apply the new rules: these systems are certified to automatically analyze the density and chemical composition of liquids and detect dangerous substances even in larger volumes.

Many smaller airports, however, still use traditional X-rays, which do not allow precise distinction between harmless liquids and explosives. For this reason, the European Commission and ECAC impose the 100 ml limit on all airports without CT technology.

This explains the greater freedom granted to passengers departing from BGY, who must nevertheless check the rules in force at their destination or transit airports to avoid having liquids confiscated.

Practical tips for liquids in hand luggage from Orio al Serio

If you depart from Milan Bergamo – Orio al Serio Airport, you can carry containers of up to 2 liters each, without taking them out of your baggage and without a transparent bag.

Note: you must consider both the departure airport and the arrival airport. If your destination does not apply the new rules, on the return trip you will not be able to bring on board the liquids you carried on the outbound journey.

The new rules mark a concrete turning point at the airport: fewer restrictions, faster checks, and a significantly smoother travel experience.