Air passengers could soon be spared the chore of having to remove their laptops and liquids from their carry-on luggage when going through security.
New equipment, using what is known as CT technology, is being tested in Britain and the United States and could slash the times travellers spend getting through to the departure lounge.
Working in much the same way as CAT scanners do in hospitals, the new devices take detailed images of what is inside a passenger’s luggage.
A number of airports are already using the technology to screen hold luggage and now the industry is trying to develop portable scanners for use on hand baggage at security checkpoints.
A complete ban on carrying liquids onto an aircraft was introduced in August 2006 after a terrorist plot to down a transatlantic aircraft, by mixing the liquid components of a bomb on board, was thwarted.
Although it was later eased to allow passengers to bring liquids in containers up to 100ml, the restrictions cause inconvenience to passengers who have to put fluids into small plastic bags (which some airports charge £1 for) and take them out of their hand luggage for inspection.