IATA warns holiday travellers to follow Lithium battery safety rules

December 2, 2025 in Companies, Travel & Tourism by Editor

With holiday air travel surging, IATA is urging passengers to pay closer attention to the rules governing lithium battery–powered devices. Despite their ubiquity, widespread misunderstandings persist about how to pack phones, laptops and power banks—mistakes that can pose real safety risks. A new global campaign aims to close those gaps before the busiest travel weeks of the year.

As the peak holiday travel season approaches, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging passengers to be more vigilant when flying with lithium battery–powered devices, warning that common misconceptions continue to put travellers and aircraft at unnecessary risk.

The reminder comes through IATA’s newly launched Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries global campaign, which outlines seven simple safety rules for carrying phones, laptops, tablets, power banks and other portable electronics on board.

Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security, said the guidance is meant to bridge a persistent knowledge gap among passengers. “Lithium-powered devices are safe when handled properly, but they can pose a risk if damaged or packed incorrectly. As more travelers 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 traveling with the electronic devices that have become an essential part of their daily lives.”

IATA’s latest passenger survey shows that nearly every traveller now boards an aircraft with at least one lithium-powered device: 83% carry a mobile phone, 60% bring a laptop and 44% fly with a power bank. But despite this near-universal dependence on electronics, confusion persists over how—and where—to pack them.

Although 93% of respondents believe they understand the rules, half mistakenly think it is safe to pack small lithium-powered devices in checked luggage. Almost the same proportion incorrectly believe power banks can also go into the aircraft hold, while one in three travellers assumes that power banks or spare batteries have no size or power limitations at all.

Safety regulators and airlines stress that these misunderstandings matter. Lithium batteries, especially when damaged or poorly stored, can overheat or ignite, creating risks that aircraft systems are designed to manage only if the devices are in the cabin, where crew can respond quickly. This is why devices such as phones, laptops, cameras and vapes—and all loose or spare batteries—must remain in hand luggage.

IATA’s guidance reminds travellers to carry only the devices they need, keep damaged or overheating items away from luggage, protect spare batteries from short-circuiting and remove all electronic devices before any hand baggage is placed in the hold during last-minute gate checks. Larger batteries over 100 watt-hours, such as those used in drones or professional equipment, may require airline approval, making advance checks essential.

As millions prepare for end-of-year journeys, IATA hopes that clear, consistent messaging will reduce preventable incidents and ensure safer skies during the busiest stretch of the travel calendar. The association has also produced an illustrated checklist poster that airlines and airports can reproduce to reinforce the guidance across terminals worldwide.