UK government intends to ease the present single cabin bag restriction from next year.

Under the plan, airports will be able to seek permission from the Dept. for Transport beginning Jan. 7 to allow passengers to take more than one item of hand luggage onboard.

Airports must prove they can maintain existing security levels.

The UK is the only EU country to limit hand luggage to one item.

The restriction was introduced in August last year after UK police foiled an alleged plot to use liquid explosives to blow up US-bound aircraft.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown simultaneously outlined plans for an e-borders scheme from mid-2009.

The system will require up to 53 pieces of data from anyone entering or leaving the country.

It will be collected when a ticket is purchased and will be shared among police, customs, immigration and security services for at least 24 hr. before the start of the journey.