Editorial Team
Our content team
5 min read
Frankfurt's brand-new Terminal 3 opens on April 22, 2026. Twenty-one security lanes, every single one with a CT scanner. Laptop stays in your bag, liquids stay in your carry-on (up to 2 liters per bottle). No unpacking, no zip bag.
Sounds great. But here's the catch: most German airports aren't there yet. I looked into the current status for March 2026, and honestly, the situation is messier than you'd expect.
Quick answer: The EU approved CT scanners for liquids up to 2 liters per container in July 2025. But only a handful of German airports are fully equipped. Unless you know for certain you'll be at a CT lane, keep following the old 100 ml rule. Seriously.
What CT Scanners Actually Change for Travelers
These new machines create 3D images of your carry-on. Security staff can rotate and zoom into the scan on screen. That means laptops, tablets, and liquids don't need to come out of your bag anymore. According to Munich Airport, up to four passengers can load their bags onto the belt at the same time. A pilot test at Munich showed throughput increased by 160 percent per lane, according to Business Insider.
Less stress, faster lines. If you get the right lane.
CT Scanner Status at German Airports
Here's where things stand as of March 2026:
| Airport | CT Status | Liquids >100 ml? | Laptop Stays In? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt T3 (from Apr 22) | 21 lanes, 100% CT | Yes | Yes |
| Frankfurt T1 (A, Z, B-West) | Fully CT | Yes, up to 2 L | Yes |
| Frankfurt T2 (D, E) | No CT | No | No |
| Munich T2 | 15 lanes, 100% CT | Yes | Yes |
| Munich T1 | ~33% CT | CT lanes only | CT lanes only |
| Berlin BER | 24 of ~32 lanes | Recommended: 100 ml | Yes, at CT lanes |
| Cologne/Bonn | 11 lanes under construction | From summer 2026 | From summer 2026 |
| Dusseldorf | 7 CT lanes | No | Partially |
| Hamburg | 6 of 18 lanes | No | Partially |
| Stuttgart T3 | From Easter 2026, 2 lanes | No | No |
Sources: Fraport, BER, airliners.de
The Mixed Operations Problem
This is where it gets tricky. Most airports run old X-ray machines and new CT scanners side by side. You don't get to choose which lane you end up at.
Frankfurt is the perfect example. In zones A and Z, you've been allowed to carry liquids up to 2 liters since September 2025, per Frankfurtflyer.de. But walk through Terminal 2 to gates D or E? Old rules, old scanner. Liquids out, laptop out.
Berlin BER has 24 CT lanes. That sounds like a lot. But the airport still recommends passengers follow the 100 ml rule, because not everyone is guaranteed a CT lane. BER CEO Aletta von Massenbach said wait times during vacation season were under ten minutes. Good news. But the old liquid restrictions still officially apply there.
Cologne/Bonn Will Be First
One airport to watch: Cologne/Bonn is investing 25 million euros to convert all 11 security lanes to CT. By summer 2026, it should become the first major German airport where every single lane is CT-equipped. No guessing, no mixed operations. Bavaria is following with over 45 million euros to fully upgrade Munich.
What You Should Do Right Now
Keep packing your carry-on liquids in the 1-liter zip bag. Yes, even if you're flying out of Frankfurt T1. The bag never hurts, and it saves you the argument if you end up at an old-style lane. If you're looking for a solid carry-on backpack with a quick-access laptop pocket, that's especially useful at airports without CT. You can pull the laptop out fast when you need to.
Flying over Easter? Check our article on Easter 2026 travel disruptions (Coming Soon) too. Getting through security is one thing. Whether your flight takes off at all is another story.
For the full breakdown on current carry-on liquid rules, see our detailed guide.
