Ananova:

Travellers are likely to be confused by new carry-on hand luggage rules, said an air passenger group.

Since a tightening of security in August 2006, passengers at British airports have been restricted to one piece of hand luggage.

But the one-bag rule will be lifted at 22 airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, Manchester and Cardiff from Monday.

The one-bag regulation will remain at some major airports - including, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool - as those airports have not demonstrated to the Department for Transport (DfT) that they can cope with an easing of the restriction.

To add to difficulties for passengers, the one-bag rule is being lifted on some connecting flights at Gatwick but remains in place for most passengers at the West Sussex airport.

Chief executive of the Air Transport Users Council Simon Evans said: "We have told the Government that there is potential for confusion.

"Since August 2006, we have all been urging people to become acquainted with the one-bag rule and to read the DfT advice. Now the message has changed and there is no longer one consistent message."

Low-cost carrier easyJet is so worried about the new arrangement that it has decided to retain the one-bag rule for all its flights regardless of which airport its passengers fly from.

EasyJet operates from 14 British airports, only seven of which have had the restrictions lifted. Airline chief executive Andy Harrison said: "There is massive scope for customer confusion in an environment where UK airports are adopting different policies. The only way to maintain a simple and standard policy is to maintain our one-bag policy."

Deputy chairman of the Airport Operators Association Neil Pakey said: "Other restrictions, such as the carrying-on of liquids, remain in force. If in doubt, passengers should make sure that they only take on board items of baggage needed in the aircraft cabin."