Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, before introducing the ban on the carriage of personal electronic devices in cabins on certain flights, what assessment they made of (1) the additional risk of lithium battery fires in aircraft holds, and (2) the safety implications of implementing a ban on lithium batteries being transported in any part of the aircraft.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (and the International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations) detail the conditions for the carriage of consumer Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) containing lithium ion/metal batteries by passengers and crew. Carriage within checked/hold baggage is permitted with the devices switched off and packed such that they are afforded suitable protection from damage and inadvertent operation.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided further advice to air carriers on the procedures to be followed in relation to the carriage of devices containing lithium batteries in the hold of an aircraft. With assurance that these procedures are in place and that passengers are complying with the operators’ safety instructions, the CAA’s assessment is that the safety risk in relation to this issue can be managed.