It is essential to speed up check-in times and reduce queues, the House of Commons Transport Committee said.

The number of passengers breaching carry-on luggage restrictions was a cause for concern, the report added.

There appeared to be confusion between airports and the Government about the carry-on restrictions and some passengers "do not believe in the threat" the extra security is meant to guard against.

MPs also said air passengers were "more frustrated and dissatisfied than ever" and that airlines with £10 flights and "tenpenny managements" could not exempt themselves from good standards and service.

The MPs said Professor Alan Hatcher of the International School for Security and Explosives Education, and Michael Todd, the Greater Manchester chief constable, had "both pointed out to us in October 2006 that lengthy queues in check-in areas presented a significant security threat".

The committee had been told: "We have lines of people in terminals now, 200, 300 people in a queue. Your bag is not searched when you go in or out. You can take 23kg of baggage with you and 23kg of ammonium nitrate mix would... make a good impact."

The report continued: "This was illustrated starkly by the recent car attack on Glasgow airport. Moving passengers more swiftly through to airside will, in itself, reduce the threat to the travelling public. Speeding up check-in-times and reducing the security queue should be a priority for airports and airlines."

The report said that security procedures at airports were "lengthy, intrusive and frustrating" but were "absolutely fundamental not only to the safe travel of air passengers but to the wider national security interest".

The committee said the Government could do more to support airports and to assist with emergency staff or funds if required.