The disruption to flight schedules because of the alleged bomb plot is estimated to have cost Ryanair up to £2m.

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BBC industry correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said Mr O'Leary was being particularly strident because the "new regulations are a threat to his business".

If Ryanair passengers travel with large pieces of luggage, which have to be checked into the hold "that's a real impediment to his business".

Mr Cellan-Jones explained: "He depends on getting away fast, no baggage in the hold and a quick turn around at the other end.

"If he is kept behind schedule his whole business starts to suffer."

Pilots who believe they should not be banned from taking liquids and gels, including contact lens solution and toothpaste, into the cockpit have now joined the calls for the security measures to be re-examined.

Captain Mervyn Granshaw, chairman of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said: "Do officials really believe that we need to be prevented from using liquids, given that we freely load and carry many thousands of litres of volatile aviation kerosene every day?

"The measure is illogical and frankly bizarre."

MAX HAND LUGGAGE SIZE Passenger baggage advice

British Airways said it plans to run all of its scheduled flights on Friday, after days of delays and cancellations.

Virgin has also called for a Competition Commission inquiry into the running of British airports in a submission to the Office of Fair Trading.

BAA runs Heathrow and Gatwick, and five regional airports.

The alert, which began on 10 August, sparked strict restrictions on airline baggage.

Passengers are able to take on board one piece of hand luggage which must not exceed 45cm x 35cm x 16cm (17.7ins x 13.7ins x 6.2ins) - equivalent to a small laptop bag or rucksack.

Twenty-three people are in custody in London, after being arrested in raids in London, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, and Birmingham last week.