What do you do with spare batteries, power banks or even electronic cigarettes when you are packing for a flight? Read More » Put them in your check-in baggage or carry-on bag?

IATA senior vice president safety and flight operations, Gilberto Lopez Meyer, said this month at the International Air Transport Association’s Global Media Day that while many passengers believed they are well-informed of check in luggage rules, it may not be so. They may be packing far too many items in their check-in luggage against industry advice.

Airlines are concerned that some items packed pose a danger to flight, particularly if they catch fire in the hold where they cannot be reached.

A recent example occurred on a Qatar Airways flight when an electronic device caught fire in the cargo hold. Fortunately, the aircraft was on the ground and the device was removed before it could cause serious damage.

Meyer said IATA conducted a survey in the United Kingdom, United States and Hong Kong to determine passengers’ awareness of safe packing for a flight.

It asked respondents if they were aware of rules for the safe carriage of portable electronic devices (PEDs) and if they checked in luggage containing power banks, electronic cigarettes etc.

The key findings revealed that spare batteries and power banks were being carried in checked baggage. Business travellers pack more power banks and spare batteries in checked baggage than leisure travellers.

Findings included:

• 33% of travellers rely on the check-in process for information on restrictions before deciding where to store their PEDs

• Across all three regions, the majority of travellers believed they were well-informed about the regulations. However, in all three regions, about one third of travellers were still packing spare batteries and power banks in checked luggage, especially business travellers.

• The global total for packing power banks in checked baggage was 36% and the average number carried was two per passenger.

IATA has launched a campaign to help airlines communicate the right and wrong way to pack PEDs before they check in for a flight. It has produced an infographic, posted on a new IATA web page in eight languages and in three different formats in short video.

Ideally, passengers should keep all electronic devices with them in carry-on bags. Electronic cigarettes, power banks and spare batteries must NOT be carried in checked luggage. Items allowed in checked baggage must always be switched off.

More than 500 lives lost in commercial aircraft accidents this year reports IATA Meyer also produced accident figures for 2018, to December 6. In the first six months of the year, there were 32 accidents involving two total jet hull losses and three total turboprop losses. Five of these were fatal crashes that claimed 301 lives. Nine incidents involved IATA members. In the second half of the year - figures are only approximate as they have to be reviewed by the Accident Classification Technical Group (ACTG) - there were six fatal accidents with 216 lives lost, bringing the year’s total to date to 517 fatalities. The Lion Air accident in late October in Indonesia accounted for a large number of those fatalities. While Meyer said the first half of 2018 was worse than the previous year, but said it was a major improvement compared with ten years ago. “Safety must be considered as trends over years, not single view 12-month periods. IATA members keep performing well, with an accident rate more than half of the overall industry,” he said.