Jet2 has issued a reminder to passengers about the rules for travelling with power banks, e-cigarettes and other devices containing lithium batteries ahead of their summer flights. The budget carrier has urged travellers to check its guidance before heading to the airport.
Hand luggage rules for battery devices
Power banks and e-cigarettes must be kept in hand luggage at all times and are strictly forbidden from being placed in hold baggage. When stored in the cabin, these items should be kept beneath the seat in front rather than in the overhead locker.
Any damaged personal electronic devices or lithium batteries are not permitted on board under any circumstances. Small lithium battery-powered vehicles, including hoverboards and balance wheels, are also banned from both checked and hand baggage entirely.
Safety concerns behind the reminder
David Hills, chief customer officer at Jet2, said: "Lots of customers travel with everyday items such as power banks and e-cigarettes, so this is a simple but important reminder to check where they are packed before setting off for the airport. These items are common, but they do need to be carried correctly, and doing so helps us keep everyone safe while they travel to enjoy their well-deserved holidays."
The safe handling and packing of electrical items on aircraft has become an increasingly pressing issue, driven by the growing number of battery-powered devices carried by travellers and a rise in in-flight fire incidents linked to them.
Rising incidents and wider guidance
The Civil Aviation Authority has forecast that 30 million travellers will depart from the UK during July and August alone. With passengers typically carrying around four lithium-powered devices each, millions of rechargeable gadgets are airborne at any given time, with more than four million in UK airspace on any single day and approaching 30 million over the course of a week.
Portable chargers and similar devices must not be placed in hold luggage in the aircraft's cargo area. Carrying them in the cabin instead allows crew to respond quickly should a device begin to overheat. Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show that incidents involving overheating or faulty passenger devices have almost doubled between 2024 and 2025.
The scale of the problem extends beyond UK skies. Lithium battery-related incidents are now being recorded twice a week worldwide, with two such events occurring on UK-bound flights in recent weeks alone.
Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority also issued guidance to passengers travelling with sex toys, advising them to pack such items in hand luggage rather than checked baggage. The advice was not about convenience, but was driven by fire safety concerns over lithium battery-powered devices being stored in the hold. A CAA spokesperson acknowledged that while having such items inspected by airport security may feel uncomfortable, it is far preferable to the risks posed by a battery-powered device being packed in checked luggage.
