Over 10,000 passengers are expected to fly from Wales, alongside more than 2.9 million travellers from England, during this October bank holiday. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued a new lithium battery safety checklist for those taking to the skies.
The checklist comes as the authority warns that incidents involving lithium battery-powered devices remain highly likely during this busy travel period. It has been designed to encourage passengers to follow simple safety rules when flying.
Rising Awareness of Battery Safety
New research suggests awareness of lithium battery safety among passengers has improved following a summer-long awareness campaign by the regulator, airports and airlines across the UK. Awareness of lithium battery travel rules has increased to 86% among recent flyers, up by 5% from last year.
However, almost one in three passengers still incorrectly believe that items containing lithium batteries should be packed in checked luggage. As passengers now travel with phones, tablets, laptops and power banks, it is important to know how to recognise and respond to an overheating device.
Cardiff Airport Response
Ceri Mashlan, operations director at Cardiff Airport, said: "As we prepare to welcome thousands of passengers travelling through Cardiff Airport during the half-term break, we are encouraging everyone to take a few moments to familiarise themselves with the Civil Aviation Authority’s lithium battery safety advice.
"Most passengers carry devices such as phones, tablets and power banks when they travel, and understanding how to pack and use them safely is an important part of today’s air travel. Working together with our airline partners and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, we can help ensure every journey starts and finishes safely."
Key Safety Rules for Passengers
The Civil Aviation Authority’s lithium battery checklist includes several key rules. Passengers should always take power banks in the cabin and check with their airline that they meet its size and quantity limits for carriage. Power banks should not be charged on any flight.
If passengers want to use a power bank on a flight, they should first check that their airline allows it and keep it easily accessible. If a power bank, vape, phone or tablet starts to get hot, passengers should switch it off, stop charging and alert the cabin crew immediately. If a power bank or device starts to smoke, the cabin crew should be alerted immediately.
Vapes should always be carried inside the cabin but never used onboard an aircraft.
Additional Travel Safety Tips
The authority has also provided additional safety tips for travelling with lithium batteries. Passengers should choose reputable suppliers and brands when buying devices and spare batteries, and follow airline rules and manufacturer instructions for carrying and using lithium batteries.
Spare batteries should be kept in the cabin and protected from damage. If a cabin bag is taken to be placed in the hold before boarding, passengers should remember to remove any batteries or lithium-powered devices. Two power banks can be taken per person, but they should never be recharged onboard the aircraft.
Batteries that show signs of damage, overheating, or swelling should not be used and should never be carried on an aircraft.
