End to one-bag rule for business air travellers

In an Evening Standard interview, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly made clear she would not object to premium-rate travellers being treated differently from economy passengers. She added: "The issue for me is how we maintain security standards."

Her words pleased airline chiefs desperate to pamper lucrative executive travellers, who prefer to carry overnight bags in the plane cabin to avoid wasting time reclaiming baggage.

Overnight bags were banned after last year's alleged liquid bomb plot but Ms Kelly said it was down to the industry to come up with new procedures to ensure the larger bags were thoroughly screened. "Let them show me robust plans for dealing with the problem without compromising security," she said.

A British Airways spokesman said: "We would welcome the lifting of restrictions on hand-baggage for our customers."

The Transport Secretary was also fiercely critical of standards at Heathrow and said: "It's obvious when visiting Heathrow that the customer experience is not satisfactory." Recalling a series of summer meetings with airport bosses, she added: "I impressed the need to improve the passenger experience, particularly on the queuing side."

Giving her first interview as Transport Secretary, she revealed that she wants to transform her department's agenda by increasing its focus on the environment.

But the minister, who owns a seven-seater Toyota people carrier, candidly admitted she used to drive herself across London to the Commons each day, had two cars and even flew at weekends to her constituency of Bolton West.

"I'm a bit more environmentally conscious than I used to be but I'm not in the perfect zone yet," she said. "I try to do my best but we are all on a learning curve here and my behaviour has changed as I've learned. I think we are all on a journey.

"I use the train now to Manchester. Being able to sit down, plug in a laptop and work without pressure is wonderful."

The crackdown on hand baggage was introduced after an alleged plot was uncovered to smuggle components of bombs onto aircraft in hand luggage, using liquid explosives hidden in drinks or toiletries containers. The bombs would then be assembled on board and detonated by a suicide killer.

Under current rules, passengers are allowed one small item of cabin baggage, with liquids and gels carried in 100ml containers.

Few can squeeze more than a spare shirt into the small space allowed and passengers are forced to rely on the baggage hold if they have to take a spare suit or laptop.

Airlines say the executive market, which is vital to covering their costs, has been affected by the rule, with many travellers to European destinations choosing to take the train.

Long queues at security barriers are also blamed for putting passengers off.