Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global has installed the world’s first net-zero carbon 5G network powered by solar energy at the Six Senses Southern Dunes resort. Nick Hendry reports

Most people don’t think about the carbon footprint of the internet but Red Sea Global, developer of the Red Sea resort on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, has launched the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network in an off-grid desert location in partnership with Zain KSA.

Zain KSA is the largest telecoms provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and has designed the system exclusively for the Red Sea Project. The service is initially available at the new Six Senses Southern Dunes, which opened last month. (The hotel also has free wifi.)

The 5G towers serving the destination will provide a new network that will be shared by other providers, reducing the need for further construction, and have been designed to mitigate their visual impact on their surroundings because they look like large rocks.Each is built using the latest in 3D printing technology. Their size is relatively small, and the exterior of each is intended to replicate natural rock formations found in the area. Developers say this will allow the towers to “seamlessly blend with [the] resort’s natural beauty”.

5G INSIGHTS

Base Stations and Infrastructure: 5G networks require more base stations (small cells) than previous generations like 4G, due to their higher frequency and lower range. These additional base stations increase the overall energy consumption. However, advancements in technology are focused on making these stations more energy-efficient.

Energy Efficiency: Despite the increased number of base stations, 5G technology is generally more energy-efficient on a per-bit basis compared to previous generations. This means that for the amount of data transmitted, 5G can be more efficient.

Data Throughput: 5G networks support much higher data rates. While this can lead to increased energy consumption due to the handling of more data, the efficiency improvements in 5G technology can help offset this.

Source of Energy: The carbon footprint greatly depends on the source of the electrical power used. If the energy comes from renewable sources like wind, solar, or hydro, the carbon footprint is lower. Conversely, if the energy comes from fossil fuels, the carbon footprint is significantly higher.

Group CEO of Red Sea Global, John Pagano, says: “Zain KSA has demonstrated a deep understanding of our requirements and provided us with the services and solutions necessary to achieve our strategic objectives. Together, we are determined to make a meaningful impact that sets new standards in sustainable development”.

This new network is just one aspect of the Red Sea’s push to operate in a sustainable manner. The stated goal for the development – launched as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the national economy – is to be completely powered by renewables by 2030 and achieve a net conservation level of 30 per cent by 2040.

The Red Sea Project covers a total of 28,000 sq km, including an archipelago of 90 islands, and is surrounded by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system.

The destination resort is intended to be a market leader in luxury “regenerative” tourism, with a full capacity of 8,000 rooms across 50 resorts planned for 2030. The entire project will be powered by more than 760,000 solar panels installed across the region, meaning the new 5G network is served entirely by renewable energy.

The region is home to dormant volcanoes, untouched beaches, cultural sites and vast desert landscapes – all key to the strategy of attracting luxury tourist traffic to the area. Alongside the Six Senses, the first properties to launch in the area include the St Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Both are located in the Ummahat Islands, home to much of the coral reef in the area and already the site of diving and water-sports centres.

This section of the development will be served by Saudi Arabia’s first seaplane company, Fly Red Sea, which will operate between the islands and the newly-opened Red Sea International airport. In line with the sustainability drive, this airport is already 100 per cent renewable-powered and will eventually be equipped to deliver Sustainable Aviation Fuel to all visiting aircraft.

As well as luxury tourism options, by the time of completion the Red Sea will offer more than 1,000 private residences, and amenities for tourists and residents alike which will include golf courses and luxury marinas. All these features will be designed and built to comply with the stated national aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and to improve quality of life for citizens across the Kingdom.

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Watersport pioneer Flite has partnered with designer Marc Newson to create a next-gen Fliteboard for riding the waves. Gemma Harris reports

Both hailing from Australia, the visionary designer Marc Newson and watersports company Flite have partnered up to unveil the “world’s ultimate eFoil”. Bridging the gap between innovation and design, the new board is now available to pre-order.

Newson, a keen surfer and existing user of Fliteboards, is a designer renowned for iconic designs for leading companies such as Qantas, Ferarri and Louis Vitton and like many of his creations, this Newson-designed Fliteboard will be a limited release with only 999 boards. Each will cost £14,345.

“Fliteboard is leading innovation in the eFoil space. They do fantastic R&D, and their manufacturing is brilliantly executed. I was introduced to the founder, David Trewern, who knew of me and reached out with a view to working together, to which I responded positively. I had a pre-existing interest in the company as I have been using a Fliteboard for the last three years, and this meant I had a degree of knowledge as a user of the product,” says Newson.

Harnessing Flite’s expertise with the brand’s previous premium boards and advanced hydrofoil technology, this partnership has replaced the Ultra L as the world’s lightest performance eFoil at under 20kg, including a Flitecell Nano battery pack. The battery pack has a single handle for easy removal and flush-mounted silicon handles.

Comparable by Newson as the “formula 1 version of the eFoil”, the project was technically driven with its design purpose for higher performance using refined materials and its combined fuselage and mast design – a first in the eFoil’s market. The board’s aesthetics, such as the unique rail shapes and Voronoi pattern deck grip, result from the technical requirements (pictured below is the Flite series two edition).A culmination of three years in the making, the inspiration for construction was taken from the aerospace field and the high-performance world of motorsport for lightweight products that withstand extreme forces. The selected materials include the Japanese high modules pre-preg carbon fibre to create the lightest, strongest, most responsive ride. Bolstered by combining Fliteboard’s patented fuselage body with the MN eFoil mast together as one piece.

A strong and elegant conical wing attachment has also been included, made from pre-preg carbon and titanium, inspired by motorsport aerodynamics to reduce drag.

Flite’s CEO and product architect David Trewern, says: “Collaborating with Marc was a dream from my early 20s at design school. What could be more inspirational for a designer than collaborating with Marc Newson on what must be one of the world’s most exciting product categories. Like the original Fliteboard, this project has been driven by passion.”

The board comes in two sizes: the MN60 for lighter and experienced riders and the MN86 for a sporty performance ideal for novice and heavier riders. Both boards are narrower for more dynamic performance, and the hydrodynamic qualities have improved with fewer parts.

The premium carbon eFoil mast is available as MN Wave or MN Dual Drive. MN Wave is made slimmer for lower drag, suiting advanced riders who like to fly over the swell. MN Dual Drive comes standard with Flite Jet and Flite Propeller, which can be swapped to suit rider preferences in only a few seconds using Flite’s unique Dual Drive system.

Newson also redesigned the user-friendly hand-held Flite Controller – an extension of your hand – the intuitive and detailed feedback on a large circular colour screen display allows the rider to have precise control over experience for effortless manoeuvrability and real-time wave data.

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In search of the perfect pitstop? AdventureGenie is the world’s first RV and camping travel planning tool powered by artificial intelligence. Jenny Southan reports

Planning RV and camping trips can be complicated and frustrating. It often requires having an array of websites and apps open at once. Some apps have adequate route planners but list only a few of the many campgrounds near a stop.

Some roadtrippers like going off-route, while others like to get straight to a destination to explore. Some like “middle of nowhere” campsites, while others like places with plenty of amenities.

However, none of the existing websites or apps help travellers build trips in the way most RVers plan, and ratings for campgrounds are not always trustworthy.

AdventureGenie says it provides the solution. The platform claims to “think like actual travellers” and then “make it easy to turn a vision into a great trip, with all the planning tools in one place”.

Founded by former Microsoft senior technology executive, Scott Lengel, and veteran CEO/investor, David Greenberg, AdventureGenie is a one-stop travel planning website for RVers, campers and road trippers that uses AI to understand what travellers want when planning trips.

“We answer the three key questions on campers’ and RVers’ minds: What to do? How to get there? Where to stay?,” says Scott Lengel, CEO of AdventureGenie.

In addition to creating itineraries, the technology behind AdventureGenie means it can intelligently generate custom journeys based on the most sought-after themed trips, with detailed trip guides and recommended campgrounds and activities.

AdventureGenie has an extensive database of over 25,000 public and private campgrounds and proprietary AI-based algorithms to customise itineraries for each user.

It also offers innovative features such as GenieSummaries (a unique way to summarise and describe each Campground), GenieScores (an innovative rating system) and GenieMatch (which shows how close AdventureGenie thinks each Campground is a good fit for each individual user). Travellers can find out what campgrounds best suit their personal preferences and then book them.

Integrated into AdventureGenie’s route planning and campground selection tool, GenieWishes asks users what they’d like to see and do on their trips – and in response, its AI engine builds an itinerary stop by stop that matches those preferences.

Lengel says: “Our GenieTrips provide detailed itineraries for dozens of popular destinations. Our 25,000+ database of campgrounds, with the built-in magic of GenieSummaries, GenieScores and GenieMatch, identifies the perfect campgrounds for each traveller.

“Our adaptable route planning tool creates customised routes, recommends AI-generated GenieStops along the way, and is fully integrated with our campground database and our GenieTrips.”

Greenberg says: ”AdventureGenie is the answer to the most vexing question my wife and I encountered while planning RV vacations: Can’t there be a one-stop-shop for RVers and campers to plan the trip of their dreams? The answer is an emphatic, yes.”

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The compulsory £45 cap on worldwide data roaming charges has now expired, leaving millions of Brits vulnerable to unexpected charges when using their phone abroad. Olivia Palamountain reports

Brits planning to use their mobiles abroad this summer take heed: the expiration of the £45 worldwide data roaming cap means consumers could be facing chunky unexpected charges when their monthly bill arrives.

A recent study by Uswitch.com reveals that 83 per cent of UK adults, equivalent to 46 million people, are unaware that the compulsory £45 worldwide data roaming cap, which protected consumers from unexpected charges, is no longer in effect after Brexit.

Over the past year, Brits have incurred approximately £539 million in unexpected roaming costs, with roaming policies varying significantly across destinations, providers and plans.

Certain networks, such as Sky Mobile, giffgaff, O2 and Three, continue to voluntarily apply the worldwide cap, while others, such as Tesco Mobile, have removed it.

Even with data roaming caps still in place, they only cover data usage, leaving phone calls and texts unprotected.

For instance, Sky Mobile customers calling from the Maldives or Seychelles would face staggering charges of £8.64 per minute, resulting in approximately £130 for a 15-minute call.

Many customers rely on bolt-on services that offer their UK allowance abroad, but these are often restricted to popular travel destinations.

Using mobile internet outside the EU and other common holiday spots may require purchasing data add-ons with minimal allowances at exorbitant prices. For instance, EE charges a hefty £65.32 for a mere 50MB in countries such as Costa Rica, Ghana and Vietnam.

Uswitch mobile expert, Rehan Ali, advises travellers to be cautious and thoroughly research their plan before embarking on their trip. He says: “Anyone travelling abroad from the UK should be wary of potential shock costs, even if they think roaming is included in their tariff. These costs can sometimes be incredibly expensive, so it’s vital that customers research ahead of their trip and put measures in place to avoid a sky-high bill.

“The safest option is to manually apply a monthly spending cap before travelling for each account that will be used abroad. This is particularly important for children and teenagers with access to a phone, as one in 10 parents say their kids have been responsible for an unexpected roaming bill.

“Given how confusing these policies and plans can be, the key piece of advice for anyone looking to enjoy some time abroad this summer is to thoroughly research your plan ahead of time and speak to your provider to avoid any nasty shocks.”

USwitch’s Top Tips for reducing your bills abroad

1. Download any maps, films and music before travelling to avoid data costs abroad. An hour of Google Maps will only eat up 5MB. However, streaming an HD movie for the same time will use about 2GB – 400 times as much.2. Set up your own spending cap with your provider to avoid any surprise bills. If you’re paying for a bundle to roam abroad, you may not have the same data allowances as you do in the UK. So check your provider’s fair usage policy to confirm exactly what you can use before you incur extra charges.3. Even receiving a voicemail abroad can cost you. If your provider charges for this, call them before you travel and get it switched off.

   4. Use hotel and café wifi connections whenever possible. You can also enable wifi calling or use services like Whatsapp to make audio calls without using your minutes. Make sure access points are secure before logging on and avoid activities like online banking on public networks.

   5. Flight mode is not just for when you’re up in the air, although it will stop you from connecting to other networks while flying across different countries. Activating it in destinations with high roaming fees can remind you to watch your usage and save you from unexpected costs.

   6. Consider buying a no-contract one-month SIM only deal that will cover you for your time away. Lebara, which runs off the Vodafone network, offers a 5GB monthly SIM only contract for £4.95, which comes with free roaming in the EU and India.

   7. Consider whether an eSIM, which means an embedded SIM card, could work out cheaper at your destination. An eSIM makes it much easier to switch mobile networks and avoid high roaming charges when travelling outside of the UK. Local eSIM bundles are typically cheaper than data roaming packages from the big four networks, or when paying per MB while abroad.

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The latest landmark to debut in Las Vegas, Sphere features a fully-programmable digital exterior offering an ‘unparalleled canvas’ for artists, partners and brands to showcase content. Jenny Southan reports

Transforming the Las Vegas skyline on July 4, for the first time ever, Sphere’s 54,000 sqm Exosphere – sporting the largest LED screen on Earth – was completely illuminated

Described as a “next-generation entertainment medium”, the Exosphere can showcase a wide range of artistic and branded content that will be seen not only by guests at Sphere and the 40-plus million visitors to Las Vegas each year, but with the world via photos of it shared on social media.

The Exosphere consists of approximately 1.2 million LED “pucks”, spaced eight inches apart. Each puck contains 48 individual LED diodes, with each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colours – creating a vivid new landmark on the Las Vegas skyline.As part of a special show to celebrate the Fourth of July, the show started with a welcome – “Hello World” – and was followed by fireworks and stars and stripes animations, before transitioning through a wide array of visual content, from underwater scenes to performances to vividly-textured lunar surfaces.

Guy Barnett, senior vice-president of brand strategy and creative development, says: “The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard – it is living architecture, and unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world.

“Last night’s show provided a glimpse of the Exosphere’s captivating power, and the possibilities for artists, partners, and brands to create compelling and impactful stories to connect with audiences in new ways.”

David Hopkinson, president and chief operating officer for MSG Sports, which oversees global marketing and brand partnerships across Sphere Entertainment and the MSG family of companies, says: “Sphere’s Exosphere is a 360-degree canvas for brand storytelling that will be seen around the world, offering our partners an unparalleled opportunity to become part of the greatest show on Earth.

“There’s nothing comparable to the impact from displaying innovative brand and immersive content on the world’s largest video screen. The extraordinary experiences we can create are only limited by imagination, and we’re thrilled to finally share with the world the spectacular potential of the Exosphere.”The Sphere itself will function as an indoor venue for original “Sphere Experiences” from leading Hollywood directors; concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; and premier marquee events. It will open in September 2023.

Later this year, the Exosphere will be prominently featured as part of Sphere’s opening in September with “U2: UV Achtung Baby Live” at Sphere, as well as during the first Sphere Experience, “Postcard from Earth” directed by Darren Aronofsky, in October.

In November, during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sphere will have a prime position along the circuit to showcase the Exosphere to a global audience – in-person and on TV – as well as significant exposure through planned takeovers of the Exosphere for race-related content, activations and advertising.

Eventually, the Exosphere will display a wide range of artistic and branded content daily, from rituals such as sunrise and sunset, to impactful brand campaigns, to delightful moments running at set times.

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A mixed-reality headset with Apple’s first 3D camera, Apple Vision Pro blurs the boundaries between the digital and the real world. Rose Dykins reports

Apple has unveiled Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computer headset that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world.

Available from early 2024 in the US, the mixed-reality (MR) device has huge potential for next-level immersive digital travel experiences that could rival the exploring new places in real life.

Worn as a headset, the Apple Vision Pro features visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, which lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space.

When wearing Apple Vision Pro, you can still see the real world around you. “Even though these experiences are happening inside Vision Pro, it looks, sounds and feels like they are physically there,” says Apple. “Foundational to Apple Vision Pro is that you’re not isolated from other people. When someone else is in the room, you can see them and they can see you.The device has a fully 3D interface that creates an “infinite canvas” for apps, freeing it from the boundaries of a traditional screen display. Meanwhile, its interface is controlled by the user’s eyes, hands and voice, making it feel as intuitive to use as possible.

“Because you’re not limited by a display, apps live in your space,” says Apple. “Your photos can be life-size… so your living room becomes a gallery. Panoramas wrap around you, as if you’re right where you took them.”

Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first ever 3D camera, meaning users can capture photos and videos with remarkable depth. This presents amazing potential for next-level travel photography and videos, allowing travellers to “relive a memory as if you’re right back in the exact moment”.

Apple adds: “Experiences on Vision Pro can also expand in three dimensions, filling the entirety of your space… You can bring in a beautiful environment and make your screen feel 100 feet wide.

“Since your eyes see the world with incredible resolution, we built a micro-OLED display system that fits 64 pixels in the same amount of space as a single iPhone pixel, and packs 23 million into two panels the size of a postage stamp. That’s more than a 4K TV for each eye, giving you jaw-dropping, life-life clarity.”

In terms of sound, Apple Vision Pro features Apple’s most advanced spatial audio system ever. Sound is delivered directionally to a user’s ear, with audio raytracing using sophisticated sensors that understand the materials and objects surrounding them in their space. This makes it feels as if sound is genuinely coming from the space around you.The impressive processing speed of Apple Vision Pro also aims to virtually eliminate lag altogether to ensure experiences take place in real time, which again presents incredible potential for immersive virtual travel experiences that feel hyper-real.

Apple Vision Pro features a single piece of three-dimensionally formed laminated glass, which acts as a lens through which the cameras and sensors view the world.

This is held by an aluminium alloy frame that curves to wrap around the user’s face, with a light seal to keep out stray light and a soft frame that flexes and conforms to a user’s unique features, while a knitted headband increases comfort. Attached to the headset is a lightweight battery attached that can be slipped into the user’s pocket.

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Uber has launched flight bookings in the UK, allowing customers to book end-to-end travel for domestic and international trips with planes and ground transfers all available via the app. Jenny Southan reports

Through a partnership with online travel agent Hopper, ride-hailing app Uber has announced a new feature that allows users in the UK to book flights directly in the Uber “super app” from this summer. (Users can also book food deliveries and hire scooters, as well as taxis, via the platform.)

To book a flight, users simply need to enter their travel details, including where they will be travelling to and from along with dates. Customers will then be able to select their departing flight and returning flight if a round trip. With major carriers, users will be able to select seats in the app and then pay, just as they would for any Uber service.

The new functionality strengthens the brand’s ambition to create a “seamless door-to-door travel solution”.

Flights on Uber join existing transport options including Uber Rides, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, train journeys across the National Rail network, Eurostar and coach travel with National Express and Megabus, as Uber continues to reimagine the way we travel.

Through working with Hopper, Uber can offer customers multiple “unique peace of mind” products to help make air travel stress-free, including Price Freeze, Flight Disruption Guarantee, Cancel For Any Reason, Change for Any Reason and VIP support.

Uber already helps facilitate the first and last legs of many international trips. The boom of post-pandemic tourism coupled with new product updates including the launch of Uber Reserve has further accelerated the role Uber plays in helping travellers to get to and from the airport.
Uber recently integrated bookings with Heathrow Express, allowing for seamless booking through the airport shuttle service, with journeys to the airport taking 15 minutes.

Andrew Brem, general manager at Uber UK, says: “We’re incredibly pleased to introduce flight bookings as the latest addition to Uber’s suite of travel booking options. Perfect for business travellers and tourists alike, our new functionality will make the booking and managing of air travel simple and stress-free, with the booking process taking as little as one minute in the Uber app. Over the last 12 months with the addition of rail, coach and now flight bookings, Uber is truly a one-stop travel solution.”

Frederic Lalonde, CEO and co-founder of Hopper, says: “Through our B2B initiative, Hopper Cloud, we can seamlessly integrate both our travel inventory and fintech products into the Uber ecosystem.

“The addition of flights to the Uber app is a big win for UK consumers who are looking for an easier way to book travel. This new partnership will offer Uber users choice, transparency and flexibility when booking flights, all in the same place they are already booking their other transportation.”

In 2022 Uber laid out its “multi-modal” vision, enabling users across the UK to travel the length and breadth of the UK with ease by train or coach. Now Uber is extending this seamless travel offering to international destinations through its partnership with Hopper.

The new product rollout follows the launch of “Directions to pickup” a new feature that provides user-friendly maps and guides for those looking for Uber pick-up points at some of the world’s busiest airports.

In addition to the extensive Uber travel offering, the company has also rolled out access to nationwide car rentals on the app enabling riders to explore everything the UK has to offer. Since 2019, public transport information has been integrated into the Uber app to help riders in cities across the UK plan their journeys effectively.

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Husband and wife adventurers, Chris and Julie Ramsey, are set to become the first people to drive from the North Pole to the South Pole in an all-electric Nissan. Olivia Palamountain reports

Nissan has teamed up with a British couple on a mission to prove that all-electric journeys are possible via an extreme challenge dubbed the “Pole to Pole expedition“.

Chris and Julie Ramseys will travel more than 17,000 miles in the new Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE (Nissan is the official vehicle partner for the adventure), raising awareness of the climate crisis and the critical role electric vehicles can play in reducing our carbon footprint.

The trip will cover 14 countries, exploring some of the world’s most extreme and beautiful terrains, from the Arctic through to North, Central and South America, before finally crossing to Antarctica.

The duo and their expedition crew will travel as sustainably as possible throughout, encountering diverse cultures and communities along the way while investigating solutions for sustainability issues, from polar melting to habitat loss and the environmental threats posed by the climate crisis.

The expedition is also working with industry leaders to adapt existing cutting edge wind and solar technology to charge their all-electric Ariya in the polar regions and turning their campsite into a portable micro-grid.

While the expedition is themed around the polar regions, further challenges are to be found crossing Arctic sea ice and traversing the Americas – think harsh environments comprising torrential rain and mud, soaring temperatures at the equator and the windswept altitude of the Andes.

With predicted temperatures ranging from -30⁰C to 30⁰C, the daring venture promises to demonstrate “just how powerful, fun and thrilling electric vehicles can be”.

Chris Ramsey, founder of Pole to Pole Expedition, says: “Our mission is to show that electric vehicles can tackle the harshest of environments – from the bitter cold of the poles to the hot and humid jungles of South America, and illustrate that they can meet the demands of drivers around the world, and encourage the switch to zero-emissions transport.

“To that end, we are thrilled that Nissan has joined the expedition. As a long-term Nissan LEAF owner and driver, I’m eager to get behind the wheel of my Ariya and put it to the ultimate test on this incredible 17,000-mile journey.”

In preparation for the brutal Arctic and Antarctic conditions, the Ramseys’ expedition Nissan Ariya e-4ORCE will be modified and equipped by Arctic Trucks, a renowned specialist in polar vehicles.

They will also provide logistical support and expertise to help plan a safe and accessible route through the most remote and hostile environments on Earth.

Emil Grimsson, chairman of Arctic Trucks, says: “For over 20 years we have specialised in providing logistical support, engineering expertise and expedition planning for projects in both Polar Regions. This will be one of the most ambitious missions that we’ve worked on, but demonstrating the success of electric vehicles in these extreme climates will be crucial to replacing the fleet of combustion engine vehicles that work in these regions with clean alternatives.”

Pole to Pole will also see the implementation of multiple legacy projects from the electrification of Polar exploration vehicles through to the expansion of the existing electric charging infrastructure in the Americas and an education partnership with international kids news platform, News-o-Matic.

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Thanks to the introduction of cutting-edge CT scanners, the hassle of limiting liquids to 100ml has been removed at London City and Teesside airports. Olivia Palamountain reports

The London City airport experience is becoming even more seamless with the introduction of high-tech CT scanners that obviate the need for passengers to limit their hand luggage liquids to 100ml. Teesside is also using new technology.

London City airport replaced all its X-ray machines with CT scanners last month. The transition will also spell an end for plastic bags at security, contributing to a reduction in waste every year.

Existing restrictions on liquids in hand luggage have been in place since 2006, but travellers can now carry up to two litres of liquid through security, along with all electronics.

The move comes after the government set a June 2024 deadline for most UK airports to install the machines – back in December, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said we would be seeing even more of the new technology this year, calling it the “biggest shake-up of airport security rules in decades.”

“By 2024, major airports across the UK will have the latest security tech installed, reducing queuing times, improving the passenger experience, and most importantly detecting potential threats,” he said.

This new generation of scanners use CT (computed tomography) technology allow security agents to examine the contents of passengers’ hand luggage in one go. They are already used in airports such as Schiphol in Amsterdam.

As explained by the Department for Transport, a CT scanners “essentially provides a 3D image of what’s in passengers’ bags.” UK airports will combine this technology with “highly advanced threat detection algorithms”.

However, travellers are warned to check the return rules for carrying liquids at any airport which they may travel or transfer through.

“Many destinations may not have implemented this new technology,” the Department for Transport previously said.

INSIGHT

Kevin Harrison, managing director of Good Travel Management, says: “This small change is sure to provide business travellers with more flexibility for packing and could help save on the cost of purchasing a checked bag.

“In addition to this, travellers will no longer be required to remove electronics like laptops, tablets or other large electrical items from their hand luggage ahead of security checks, significantly speeding up time spent going through security.

“The changes come as part of the recent rollout of new advanced CT X-ray scanners that will be introduced across all major UK airports, with the government giving airline bosses until June 2024 to take up the new technology.

“The improved security measures will mean airport staff are able to see hand luggage contents in 3D (as opposed to previous 2D), improving the detection of potential threats while reducing queuing times and improving the overall passenger experience.

“While the changes will undoubtedly provide a more efficient service to all passengers, corporate travellers are sure to feel the greatest benefit. The new rules allow those travelling solely with cabin luggage – as most business tourists do – to overcome the hurdle of slow security checks, enabling them to move quickly throughout airports and get on with doing business.

“However, it’s important to note business travellers will still need to check what security measures are in place ahead of travelling, particularly when flying overseas, as this may differ depending on the airport.”

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Trendy American luggage brand Away has created a range of psychedelic suitcases in a bid to stand out from the crowd. Jenny Southan reports

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