Hand baggage restrictions may be relaxed

Security restrictions resulting in passengers having to limit the amount of hand luggage they take on holiday with them could be removed as soon as autumn, an expert has said.

According to Simon Calder, travel editor at the Independent, the government is set to increase the amount of hand luggage allowed on a flight from the UK to more than one, meaning flyers can relax more in airport lounges.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme, Mr Calder explained that transport secretary Ruth Kelly is toying with the idea of relaxing the airport regulations but will only do so if a tight level of security is maintained in major airports such as Heathrow and Manchester Airport.

Mr Calder stressed: "[The government] have set up a working party and I reckon there will be a change, probably some time in the autumn."

Current security regulations at the UK's airports are resulting in larger queues than usual and passengers are facing a longer wait for airport lounges as they attempt to navigate their way through an increased number of checks.