Airport staff across Europe have been encouraging passengers to pack fewer items so that they are less likely to suffer an injury.

Representatives from the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) handed out 100,000 leaflets and luggage stickers at 35 different airports on Friday (November 27th) to raise awareness of their new campaign.

This calls for an immediate top limit of 23kg per item in addition to a phased reduction to 15kg, which they say will result in fewer musculoskeletal injuries.

Health and safety weight limits do not apply to aeroplane luggage, with the ETF and ITF also calling for a hand luggage limit of 6kg per bag.

This would, they argue, make aircraft safer by removing the danger of heavy bags falling from overhead lockers.

The campaign also points to the environmental benefits of lighter luggage, with less fuel needed to transport lighter bags.

Elsewhere, a GBP 6million upgrade is set to get underway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which will see improvements to baggage handling facilities.

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