CASA says batteries and vapes stay in cabin
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is urging Australians travelling in the school holidays to keep power banks, spare batteries, vapes and e-cigarettes in the aircraft cabin, not in checked baggage.
On 15 September 2026, the agency renewed that warning through its Pack Right. Safe Flight. Campaign. It wants passengers to check what they can and cannot pack before leaving for the airport.
According to CASA, most travellers now carry at least four rechargeable lithium-powered devices onto planes. Those items are among the most common things packed incorrectly, and they can create a serious fire risk.
CASA CEO and Director of Aviation Safety Pip Spence said, “Spare lithium batteries, e-cigarettes, vapes and power banks must never be packed in checked baggage.”
Instead, travellers should keep those items in the cabin. Cabin crew are trained to respond there if an incident happens during a flight.
Norway, Finland and UK adopt campaign
Aviation authorities in Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom have adopted CASA’s Pack Right. Safe Flight. Campaign, extending the message beyond Australia.
Electrical devices that need to be plugged into mains power can go in checked baggage. Travellers can also search CASA’s website for rules on aerosols, sparklers and cleaning products, including whether they can be carried at all, where they should be packed and what conditions apply.
Passengers must declare dangerous goods when they check in, whether online or at the airport. Incorrect or misleading declarations can lead to significant penalties or cause travellers to miss their flights.
Meanwhile, CASA is urging passengers to treat cabin crew and fellow travellers with respect during the busy school holiday period. Spence said people should follow crew instructions because those directions are there to keep them safe.
She also urged passengers to keep lithium battery devices near them at all times in the cabin.
Earlier in 2026, the International Air Transport Association launched its “Save a Life, Not a Bag” campaign. It urges passengers not to delay an evacuation by trying to retrieve cabin baggage.
Global safety regulators support that IATA message. As a result, travellers are being reminded to leave all baggage behind and move quickly to the nearest usable exit during an evacuation.
Australians can visit CASA’s Pack Right. Safe Flight website before heading to the airport to check common items and packing rules.
