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Flight to catch? Phone in hand, laptop in your backpack, earbuds charged and ready to go? That’s the reality for most gadget lovers. But what many travellers don’t realise is that all these everyday devices are powered by lithium batteries - and flying with them comes with safety risks if proper precautions aren’t taken. When overheated, damaged, or short-circuited, lithium batteries can catch fire, and in some cases may even interfere with an aircraft’s equipment.
With the holiday season just days away, millions of people are gearing up to travel, explore new destinations, and reconnect with loved ones - making it more critical than ever to understand how to fly safely with your favourite tech. According to statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 83% of travellers carry a mobile phone, 60% bring a laptop, and 44% pack a power bank when they fly. With so many lithium-powered items on board, IATA has launched its global ‘Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries’ campaign to educate travellers on safer ways to pack, charge, and carry their devices.
"Lithium-powered devices are safe when handled properly, but they can pose a risk if damaged or packed incorrectly. As more travellers fly with these devices, our Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries campaign will help airlines educate their passengers on the simple rules they must keep in mind when travelling with the electronic devices that have become an essential part of their daily lives,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security, in a statement.
The campaign follows increasing reports of passengers misunderstanding what is allowed and how lithium-powered items should be handled. These misconceptions can put flights, crew, and travellers at risk.
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IATA's seven simple rules every traveller should follow:
- Pack light: Only bring the devices and batteries you really need.
- Stay alert: If a device is hot, smoking, or damaged, tell the crew (or airport staff) immediately.
- Keep devices with you: Always carry phones, laptops, cameras, vapes (if allowed) and other battery-powered items in your hand baggage, not in checked luggage.
- Protect loose batteries: Keep spare batteries and power banks in their original packaging or cover the terminals with tape to prevent short circuits.
- Gate check reminder: If your hand baggage is taken at the gate to be placed in the aircraft's baggage hold, please remove all lithium batteries and devices first.
- Check battery size: For larger batteries (over 100 watt-hours, such as those used in larger cameras, drones, or power tools), check with your airline to ensure approval is required.
- Check airline rules: Always confirm your airline’s policies, as requirements may differ in compliance with local regulations.
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