Medical and special requirements

We realise some passengers will have different requirements from others and we’re always happy to explain the security process in advance of your trip so you can be as prepared as you possibly can be, especially if you’re travelling with young children or just require a little bit more help or time.

To help us with that, we’ve worked with a number of local charities and organisations to help us design our process and help you through security.

Essential medicines, including inhalers and liquid dietary foodstuffs

We know some passengers will need to bring liquid medicines with them so please bring as much as you require for your trip, along with a supporting prescription or doctor’s note.

Although these items can stay in your bag, our Security Officers may need to make some checks, which is why you must have the supporting prescription or a doctor's note with you.

Medical devices and assistance

Edinburgh Airport aims to ensure all passengers have a positive experience throughout the airport and are treated with dignity and care at the security gateway. Passengers and their baggage will need to go through airport security before reaching the departure area.

For this purpose, Edinburgh Airport is directed by the Department for Transport (DfT) to use security (body) scanners to screen departing passengers from the UK.

Passengers who are fitted with external and internal medical devices*, and prosthetic devices** are encouraged to inform the Security Officer. If the Security Officer assesses that a passenger wearing orfitted with a medical device is not suitable for screening by the security scanner, then an alternative search process will be used to suit the circumstances the passenger has declared. The screener may ask to see the medical device to complete the screening process. For such passengers, an airport may, depending on its local policies, offer for, or require, this screening to be carried out in a private area (not on the lane), so that a sufficient search can be completed whilst protecting the dignity of the passenger.

Any passenger who elects to opt out of a security scanner search for non-medical reasons is required to have an ‘enhanced search in private’. It will likely add additional time to your journey and will involve a more in-depth hand search in a private search area. Further details can be found here.

If a passenger refuses to be screened in accordance with DfT requirements and the instructions of the Security Officer, they will not be permitted access to the restricted part of the airport beyond security and will not be able to board a flight.

For passengers travelling with a pacemaker/ICD or a prothesis, please inform one of the security team before going through the scanning equipment.

And if you are travelling with a guide dog then please contact your airline in the first instance.

Travelling with babies and young children

The little ones need fed so make sure you bring enough sterlisied water, liquid good and baby milk for your journey!

You can carry liquids in containers of up to two litres so bring what you need, just be aware that we might ask you to open the containers and let us screen the contents.

* Included but not limited to: Medical devices worn on or in the body: Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems (CGMs), insulin pumps, living with stoma bags, cochlear implants, feeding tubes, defibrillators, and artificial pacemakers. (This is not an exhaustive list)

** Included but not limited to: Prosthetic devices are replacement body parts widely used in modern medical treatment. They may be fitted internally or externally and include replacement lenses in the eye following cataract surgery, artificial heart valves, hip replacements and breast implants. External prostheses include those used in cosmetic surgery or following breast cancer treatment, and artificial limbs. (This is not an exhaustive list)