Airlines and aviation safety authorities have issued urgent warnings to passengers not to pack power banks or vaping devices in hold luggage, citing a sharp rise in lithium battery fires as the primary safety threat to aircraft.
The alert comes as the UK and Europe enter the peak summer holiday travel period, with passenger volumes expected to remain elevated through August.
The number of lithium battery devices discovered in checked baggage has nearly doubled over the past year, according to BBC reporting.
Aviation regulators emphasize that these devices must remain in carry-on bags so that any thermal runaway can be detected and managed by cabin crew, rather than igniting uncontrollably in the cargo hold.
This safety directive adds another layer of operational complexity for carriers already navigating a challenging cost environment.
International Airlines Group, parent of British Airways, recently issued a profit warning citing rising fuel costs driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.