The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is urging passengers to follow its new lithium battery safety checklist ahead of the October half-term, when nearly three million people are expected to fly across England and Wales. The regulator cautioned that "incidents involving lithium battery-powered devices remain highly likely during this busy travel period."
The checklist is designed to help passengers recognise the warning signs of an incident and respond quickly if a lithium battery-powered device overheats, starts smoking, or catches fire onboard an aircraft.
Awareness improving but gaps remain
Fresh research commissioned by the CAA shows that passenger awareness of lithium battery safety has improved following a summer-long campaign by the regulator, airports, and airlines across the UK. The survey found that awareness of lithium battery travel rules rose to 86% among recent flyers, up from 81% last year.
However, nearly one in three passengers (31%) still mistakenly believe that items containing lithium batteries should be packed in checked luggage. The CAA said this demonstrates that awareness "does not always translate to understanding." Understanding packing regulations is only one part of the overall safety picture, it noted.
More than half (54%) of air passengers now travel with a power bank, up from 49% last year. As passengers board flights carrying increasing numbers of phones, tablets, laptops, and power banks, identifying and responding to an overheating device has become equally critical, the CAA added.
Checklist for safe travel
The CAA's checklist encourages passengers to take the following steps before and during a flight:
- Always take power banks in the cabin and check with your airline that they meet its size and quantity limits for carriage.
- Do not charge your power bank on any flight.
- If you want to use a power bank on a flight, first check that your airline allows it and keep it easily accessible.
- If a power bank, vape, phone, or tablet starts to get hot, switch it off, stop charging, and alert the cabin crew immediately.
- If a power bank or device starts to smoke, alert the cabin crew immediately. They are trained to deal with the issue safely.
- Always carry vapes inside the cabin with you, but never vape onboard an aircraft.
Risk still remains
Glenn Bradley, head of flight operations at the CAA, 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 checklist 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 checklists 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."
Tonia Fielding, security director at Heathrow, said: "With the increasing popularity of power banks, it's more important than ever that passengers travel safely by packing these devices in their hand baggage. The Civil Aviation Authority's new checklist provides clear and practical advice on how to travel safely, and we encourage all passengers to keep it top of mind when preparing for their next journey."
The CAA confirmed it is continuing efforts with airports and airlines across the UK to raise awareness of lithium battery safety and minimise the risk of incidents onboard. Further details and the complete guidance are available at www.caa.co.uk/packright.
