New hand baggage restrictions have been introduced by British Airways to ensure that aircraft depart on time.

The carrier announced that the number of customers travelling with oversized baggage had increased.

The rules allow for two items of hand baggage: a cabin bag of 56 centimetres by 45cm by 25cm, and a personal bag of 45cm by 36cm by 20cm.

Cabin bags remain the same, but personal bags are to be reduced to 40cm by 30cm by 15cm.

Smaller bags that fit the new maximum sizes must be marked with yellow tags, except for passengers in First and Club World.

British Airways said that on “very busy flights”, passengers without yellow tags could be asked to check baggage if overhead lockers were full.