Holidaymakers flying from airports across the region this half-term are being asked to follow a new safety checklist on lithium battery-powered devices, as the aviation regulator warns that onboard incidents remain highly likely during the busy travel period.
Almost three million passengers are expected to fly from airports across England and Wales over the October half-term, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched the checklist to help them recognise the warning signs if a phone, tablet, laptop or power bank overheats, starts smoking or catches fire on board an aircraft, and to respond quickly.
New research commissioned by the regulator suggests awareness of lithium battery safety has improved following a summer-long campaign run with airports and airlines across the UK. Awareness of lithium battery travel rules among recent flyers has risen to 86%, up from 81% last year.
However, almost one in three passengers (31%) still wrongly believe that items containing lithium batteries should be packed in checked luggage.
The survey also found that more than half (54%) of air passengers now carry a power bank when they fly, up from 49% last year, making it increasingly important that travellers know how to deal with a device that begins to overheat.
The checklist asks passengers to:
- Always take power banks in the cabin and check with their airline that they meet its size and quantity limits for carriage.
- Not charge their power bank on any flight.
- Check that their airline allows power bank use before using one on a flight, and keep it easily accessible.
- Switch off and stop charging any power bank, vape, phone or tablet that starts to get hot, and alert the cabin crew immediately.
- Alert the cabin crew immediately if a power bank or device starts to smoke, as they are trained to deal with the issue safely.
- Always carry vapes in the cabin, but never vape on board an aircraft.
Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Firstly, it’s great that more passengers know to take power banks and lithium batteries with them in the aircraft cabin where any issue can be dealt with. But the chance of devices overheating and catching fire still remains. That is why we are now also offering our check list to people on how to deal with incidents.
“Knowing where to pack these devices is important, but passengers should also know what to do if one starts overheating during a flight. Spotting the warning signs and alerting cabin crew quickly can make an important difference.
“Pack right for a safe flight. Pilots use check lists every flight to remind themselves of safety procedures. We’re now asking passengers to use their own version so they can play a vital role in safety.”
The Civil Aviation Authority says it is continuing to work with airports and airlines across the UK to improve awareness of lithium battery safety and reduce the risk of onboard incidents.
Full guidance on travelling safely with lithium batteries is available at www.caa.co.uk/packright.
