One-bag limit on hand luggage 'does not improve security'

Giovanni Bisignani said airport screening in Britain only inconveniences passengers, and the luggage policy only benefits airport operator BAA.

The limit was introduced by the Government after last August's airport terror alert. It said it was a response to a "very real threat".

A spokesman for IATA said the UK was the only country in the world to introduce the luggage restrictions, Mr Bisignani hand luggage 'does not improve security' said security measures at airports across the world should be in line with each other.

He added: "The US - EU agreement on the sharing of passenger data, signed this month, was a step in the right direction.

"But governments must focus much more on further harmonisation to ensure that effective security is also convenient for passengers. A particular focus will be the UK, where unique screening policies inconvenience passengers with no improvement in security. The only beneficiary is the airport operator BAA, that continues to deliver embarrassingly low service levels by failing to invest in appropriate equipment and staff to meet demand. This must stop."

A spokesman for BAA, which runs seven airports including Gatwick and Heathrow, said it has tried to cut queueing and improve airports' performance.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "The Government has already launched a £1.5 million advertising campaign in the national press to remind passengers to arrive prepared and, where possible, is introducing changes to help make the security process quicker.

"But we have to be satisfied that any changes will not compromise the safety of passengers." Mr Bisignani also announced the half-year passenger figures for airlines across the world.

International air traffic passenger demand grew 6.3 per cent in the first half of the year compared with the first half of 2006.

The IATA predicted that record numbers of people would travel this month.