BUSINESS NEWS


‘People going down [emergency] slides with hand luggage are putting themselves and


other passengers at risk – it’s a crazy thing to do,’ says Iata director general Willie Walsh


‘Passengers with bags jeopardise evacuations’


Iata warns of risk posed by flyers exiting with hand luggage. Ian Taylor reports


Iata has expressed alarm at growing evidence of passengers delaying emergency evacuations of aircraft by opening overhead bins and grabbing hand luggage. The airline association plans a


campaign warning of the danger of delaying evacuations, noting the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also expressed concern. The alarm comes after the FAA


issued a ‘safety alert’ on the dangers of lithium batteries in phones, laptops and power banks in September, amid an increase in battery-related fires on


56 8 JANUARY 2026


aircraft. A growing number of airlines have imposed restrictions on lithium batteries and power banks in cabin luggage. Their carriage in hold baggage is prohibited due to the fire risk – a fact many passengers appear unaware of. Iata produced a lithium battery safety campaign video last year. Aircraft need to be evacuated


within 90 seconds in an emergency, but Iata senior vice-president for safety Nick Careen said: “We’re not close to the 90-second rule.” He noted “quite a few lithium battery incidents” and promised a


campaign “by July” to “nip this in the bud”, saying: “We’re thinking to look at the psychology behind it.” Iata director general Willie Walsh


said: “We’re seeing more and more social media film of passengers being instructed to evacuate and taking their hand luggage from overhead bins.” He described the behaviour as


“shocking”, saying: “You see people going down slides with hand luggage. Clearly, they’re putting themselves


Continued on page 54 travelweekly.co.uk


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PICTURE: Shutterstock/Asrul Rowi


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