Sir Richard Branson’s airline Virgin Atlantic has today called for a review into the current rules which limit the liquids that passengers can take on board in their hand luggage.

The call came after a jury failed to decide whether or not a group of British Muslims were part of a plot to blow transatlantic airliners out of the sky using liquid explosives.

Three men were convicted of conspiracy to murder, but the jury was deadlocked on the central allegation - that terrorists planned to use liquid bombs to destroy aircraft en route from Heathrow to cities in the United States and Canada.

The arrests of the men had triggered strict rules on hand luggage which continue to cause delays and confusion at airports. Today, the government told The Times that it would maintain the rules.

However Paul Charles, Virgin's director of communications, said this afternoon that people were confused by different restrictions imposed by different airports.

He told BBC Online that “now is the time” for a review into the rules, which include flyers having to remove their belts, shoes and jackets before they go through security arches at airports. Many airports also prohibit passengers from carrying liquid beyond the security gate.

Mr Charles said: "Maybe now is the time for a review to take a look at how appropriate the current rules are for taking liquids on board an aircraft.

"Certainly it's important to have restrictions in place when the country is on the highest state of alert.

"There are different rules at different airports around the world, so it would make more sense to review all of these to make sure there's continuity worldwide."

Airport restrictions on liquids, which led to chaos in terminals across the world, were brought in after the arrests of the group in August 2006.

They led to travellers having to queue for hours, numerous flight delays and serious restrictions placed on hand luggage which saw only certain items allowed to be carried on board in a clear plastic bag.

Some of the rules remain the same today, including no liquid in containers larger than 100ml. The term includes drinks, syrups, creams, mascara, gels and pastes.

Peter Clarke, who headed Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command when the plot allegations emerged, said restrictions on passengers carrying liquids on flights must remain.

A statement from the Department for Transport said: "The court case has proven that a generic capability exists to create liquid bombs from domestic items.

"Aircraft could be vulnerable to such devices so we are right to continue to require restrictions for liquids carried as hand luggage.

"We are also right to require these restrictions internationally as, potentially, we are all at risk.

"Meanwhile, we continue to work with international colleagues to develop technological detection methods which could ease the restrictions."

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