With almost 40 million passengers travelling through London Heathrow Airport during the first half of the year, the UK Civil Aviation Authority is urging holidaymakers across London not to let a simple packing mistake get in the way of their late summer getaway ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

As around 2 million passengers* are expected to depart from airports across England, Scotland and Wales over the August Bank Holiday weekend – before heading to the airport, travellers are being encouraged to take a few moments to check they have packed their battery-powered devices correctly.

Lithium batteries can overheat if damaged and are found in many of the everyday gadgets we travel with. Passengers are being reminded to follow a few simple steps before they fly:

Keep items such as mobile phones, vapes and power banks in your hand luggage.
Never charge a power bank during a flight.

Common holiday gadgets that should travel in hand luggage:

Power banks
Vapes
Wireless headphones
Laptops
Tablets and e-readers
Smartwatches
Cameras

Jonathan Nicholson, a spokesperson at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:

“Whether you’re heading off for some late summer sun, squeezing in a last-minute family holiday or enjoying a long weekend away, a few simple checks before you travel can help your journey get off to the best possible start.

“With the average traveller now packing around four different lithium powered devices when they fly, it is more important than ever to ‘Pack Right for a Safe Flight’.”

“Don’t let a simple packing mistake get in the way of your well-earned break! Lithium batteries can overheat if damaged, so always take power banks, vapes and phones in the cabin with you – this simple step helps make flying safer for everyone on board.”

Tonia Fielding, Director 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 preventable risk is a vital part of that commitment. We’re pleased to be joining forces with the CAA to raise awareness of the dangers posed by incorrectly packed lithium batteries, with the risks still not fully understood by some travellers.

“We are in one of the busiest periods of the year, and we are working closely with our airline partners to make sure passengers have clear guidance to travel safely and with confidence.”

For more information on travelling safely with lithium batteries and to view the full guidance, visit www.caa.co.uk/packright.