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Security
At London Stansted Airport, we make the safety and security of customers and staff our absolute priority.
To make your journey as smooth as possible and avoid unnecessary delays, we ask that you pay special attention to our security procedure.
Security rules for hold luggage
For security rules and packing advice for hold luggage (luggage that is checked in), please see our dedicated Luggage page
Security checks
For the benefit of all passengers’ security, departing passengers may be required to be screened using security (body) scanning equipment at Stansted Airport.
Our advanced technology scanners are part of a range of security measures, some of which may not be obvious. These include a deliberate element of unpredictability in their deployment. This means you may experience a different process than you did on your last visit to Stansted.
Scanners are the safe*, quick, and simple to use solution for speeding passengers through security whilst achieving higher levels of security detection than has previously been possible.
Assessment of scan data is conducted using the latest computer algorithms and no personal data is saved.
You may opt out of being screened by security scanner. In this instance, you must either be screened by an alternative method which includes at least an enhanced hand search in private or you will not be permitted to enter the security restricted area, or, if applicable, you will be removed from it. An enhanced hand search in private will take place in a private room or an area away from the main search comb. This may involve the loosening and/or removal of clothing.
For more information please visit www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions
*They do not use x-rays.
Hand luggage
It is an offence to carry any of the following items into the aircraft cabin:
• Acid
• Billiard, snooker or pool cues
• Builder's tools
• Catapults and sling-shots
• Darts
• Explosives
• Gas cartridges, or gas cartridge re-fills
• Hammers, nails or screw-drivers
• Hypodermic syringes (unless supported by medical evidence)
• Knives with blades more than 6cm
• Lighter fuel
• Lighter top-up fuel (passengers are allowed to carry one disposable lighter in a clear re-sealable plastic bag)
• Mercury
• Paint
• Razor blades
• Scissors - specifically, blades measuring greater than 6cm in length
• Sporting bats
• Toy or replica guns (plastic or metal)
• Umbrellas - unless foldable
Hand luggage sizes
We would remind all passengers that each airline has their own policy regarding the amount of hand baggage allowed on their aircraft and we strongly recommend that information regarding this is sought directly from the Airline before travel. The current restrictions on the size of hand baggage taken into the restricted area of the airport remain in place with no bag larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm being permitted.
Accessibility
Those requiring accessibility services while travelling throughout security will find plenty of assistance.
Essex Police and Project Servator
Essex Police run Project Servator, which involves intelligence-led, unpredictable, visible police deployments designed to deter and detect criminality. They can occur any time across the entire airport and also include vehicle checkpoints and use of other policing assets such as dogs so don’t be surprised if you see them! The Servator team regularly briefs and liaises with staff and businesses around the airport so they know what to be on the lookout for and how to report anything suspicious. They love to talk to our passengers to explain what they are doing, so do feel free to chat to them!
In addition, Essex Police work in partnership with British Transport Police to run joint Servator deployments, so you may come across these on your journey into the airport. For further information visit their website and follow the Project Servator team on social media - @EssexPoliceSTN.
What you can take through security in hand luggage
If under 100ml and in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag, passengers are permitted to take liquids, gels and pastes through security separately from their hand baggage.
It is best to prepare your liquid bag - no larger than 20cm x 20cm and not exceeding one litre - before arrival at London Stansted Airport. They are however available if you forget to bring your own, though there is a limit of one liquid bag per passenger. The bag must be one litre, which is around half the size of a standard A4 piece of paper, and it must be sealable.
What is a liquid?
- Water and other drinks, soups, syrups
- Pastes, including toothpaste
- Creams, lotions and oils, including lip balm and moisturiser
- Perfumes
- Make-up, including mascaras
- Sprays, including sun-tan lotion
- Inhalers
- Gels, including hair and shower gels
- Contents of pressurised containers, including shaving foam, other foams and deodorants
- Liquid-solid mixtures
- Any other item of a similar consistency
Always check in any liquid over 100ml and if you're unsure whether an item will be allowed through, please always check it in with your hold luggage.
Please note - if you wish to bring your own containers to hold 100ml or less, the container must have printed on it the measurement that the container can hold. Travel sets of containers that do not have measurements on them will not be allowed through security. Handwritten measurements or stickers are also not acceptable.
Laptops and other electrical equipment (iPads, hairdryers, straighteners, large speakers, large cameras, docking stations, irons) have to be removed from hand luggage and screened separately.
If you’re flying to the USA, please ensure that electrical devices are charged and capable of being switched on. Any passengers with specific queries about their individual flight should check with their airline for more detailed information.
Electronics ban – inbound flights
In line with the government announcement regarding all UK airports, electronic items larger than 16 x 9.3 x 1.5 cm will not be allowed into the cabin of flights coming into London Stansted Airport from:
- Turkey (except flights from Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen or Izmir airports)
- Egypt (except flights from Luxor, Hurghada or Marsa Alam airports)
- Saudi Arabia
These items must go into the hold and passengers are advised to liaise with their airline on how to facilitate this.
This will only affect passengers flying into London Stansted Airport from these countries, and not any departing from here. It will however affect passengers’ return journey, when they come back into London Stansted Airport.
For more information, please visit here.
Baby foods
When travelling with a baby, you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. In some cases this will be over 100ml.
You can carry breast milk in hand luggage even if you’re not travelling with a baby. You can’t carry frozen breast milk in hand luggage.
Individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2,000ml. Each container will need to be screened at the security point. Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids.
| Item | Allowed in hand luggage | Allowed in hold luggage |
| Breast milk | Yes, in containers up to 2,000ml | Yes |
| Frozen breast milk | No | Yes |
| Formula milk, cow’s milk | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Sterilised water for the baby | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Soya milk for babies | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Baby food | Yes (baby must be present) | Yes |
| Cooling gel packs | Yes | Yes |
A baby is considered to be 0-36 months old.
Medicines
A passenger may take prescription medication in containers over 100ml through security, provided that they have a prescription or doctor's note for the medication. The passenger may only carry through security the quantity of liquid medication that is required for their journey.
Passengers will be able to buy liquids including drinks and perfumes in duty free and other stores after security control, or on-board the aircraft. If they are sold in a special sealed bag, passengers must not open them before they are screened otherwise the contents may be confiscated at the security checkpoint.
Food items and powders in your hand luggage can obstruct images on x-ray machines. Your bags may need to be checked again manually by security. You can put these items in your hold luggage to minimise delays.