UK-CAA urges passengers to ‘Pack Right for a Safe Flight’ with lithium batteries

UK-CAA summer campaign: “Pack Right for a Safe Flight”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK-CAA) is urging all passengers to “pack right for a safe flight” by keeping items that contain batteries in the cabin.

The message marks the start of a summer campaign in which the UK aviation regulator is working alongside airlines and airports to increase awareness of the hazards created when everyday electrical items are packed in the wrong place.

Although global events mean this is unlikely to be a record-breaking summer, tens of millions of people are still expected to travel through UK airports.

What passengers should do with lithium-battery devices

Passengers are being advised to:

• take items such as mobile phones, vapes and portable chargers (power banks) on board with them;
• never charge a power bank during a flight;
• fully power down laptops if they are placed in checked baggage.

Getting this wrong can lead to bags being removed from a flight, causing major delays, or-more seriously-could trigger a fire that may be impossible to control.

Giancarlo Buono, Aviation Safety Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“Flying is by far the safest way to travel, and we want it to stay that way. Pack right for a safe flight, and that means not putting your batteries in checked baggage. Take them into the cabin with you. This simple tip will make your flight safer for you and for the other passengers you are flying with.”

Why it matters: incidents and awareness gaps

The warning comes as new data highlights the scale of the risk, with lithium-battery incidents now happening at a rate of around two per week. UK-CAA figures show that reports of passenger devices overheating or malfunctioning almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, following a year-on-year rise of 98%. Cases of lithium-battery-powered devices being incorrectly packed in checked baggage also rose by 91% in 2025.

Even so, passenger understanding remains limited. More than a third (36%) of travellers are unaware of the dangers of packing batteries in checked baggage, despite 92% flying with a mobile phone, 55% with a laptop and 49% with a power bank-suggesting that, on a typical flight, hundreds of batteries could be stowed incorrectly.

On average, people now travel with four different lithium-powered devices, meaning there can be more than 2,000 on a busy Airbus A380 service. The UK-CAA says this makes the fire risk posed by lithium batteries the number one safety risk for aircraft.

Power banks and vapes are among the highest-risk items and should always be carried by the passenger in the cabin. A traveller should never plug in a power bank to charge while on board, but may charge other devices from the power bank (check in advance with the airline or on the aviation authority’s website).

Industry and airport leaders back the UK-CAA guidance

Gareth Salt, Vice-President of Health, Safety and Security at Virgin Atlantic, said:

“Ahead of our peak summer travel season at Virgin Atlantic, it’s really important that customers understand the guidance for lithium-battery-powered devices, including power banks and vapes, and pack them correctly.

We are proud to support the UK-CAA’s ‘Pack Right for a Safe Flight’ campaign, helping to raise awareness of the simple steps customers can take to reduce risk and ensure every journey is as safe and enjoyable as possible.”

Tonya Fielding, Head of Security at Heathrow Airport, said:

“Flying is already one of the safest ways to travel, and we are committed to keeping it that way for every passenger.

Reducing avoidable risks is a vital part of that commitment. We are pleased to join with the CAA to raise awareness of the dangers posed by lithium batteries that are packed incorrectly, with the risks still not fully understood by some travellers.

As we approach one of the busiest periods of the year, we are working closely with our airline partners to ensure passengers have clear guidance to travel safely and with confidence.”

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said:

“UK airlines support this important campaign. Flying is the safest way to travel, but as the number of electronic devices we use increases, the risk of lithium-battery incidents is a growing challenge.

While pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with any situation, the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags.

Electronic devices such as tablets, power banks and vapes belong in hand luggage, not in the hold. We’re asking every passenger travelling this summer to take a moment to check before zipping up their suitcase.”

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said:

“Everyone in aviation is working hard to ensure passengers are aware of the rules on carrying rechargeable batteries, so we can all fly to our summer holidays safely.

Through AirportsUK’s health and safety working group and our work with the CAA, we have developed a clear message: travellers should bring into the cabin any rechargeable batteries they want to take on holiday.

We want everyone to be able to enjoy their summer holidays and, to do that, we must all pack right for a safe flight.”

Information from the UK-CAA