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Travelling with Lithium Batteries

Wheelchairs / Mobility Aids With Lithium Batteries

  • You should contact Air Cairo sales office or our call center at least 48 hours in advance of your flight to let us know about your request.
  • Air Cairo accept all types of battery-powered wheelchairs as checked baggage such as wheelchairs with dry cell battery, gel cell battery, or non-spill able electric storage batteries. (Wet Battery Is Not Accepted).
  • Lithium-ion battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility aids may be carried as checked baggage, provided that the battery must be of a type which meets the United Nations (UN) test requirements as specified in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III Section 38.3. Certain safety procedures must be followed to comply with international air transport safety regulations, and we will advise you of these at the time of booking.
  • Please contact Air Cairo sales office or our call center for assistance and advise us about the weight and size of your wheelchair, the type of battery used for your battery-powered wheelchair and the lithium-ion battery watt-hours if your wheelchair is powered by a lithium battery
  • Lithium-ion battery powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility aids like scooters are permitted in air transport but subject to the following conditions:
  1. The batteries must be of a type which meets the requirements of which test in the UN Manual.
  2. It is recommended that customers make advance arrangements with each operator. 
  3. Most scooters have a key which can be switched to the off position, removed, and given to the customer for safe keeping. However, most power chairs are switched on and off with a push-button.

Lithium-ion Battery Powered Wheelchairs Will Be Accepted According to The Following Guidelines: 

Wheelchairs with Fixed Battery

  • The battery must not exceed 300 Wh.
  • A maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares each not exceeding 160 Wh may be carried in the passenger cabin.
  • Battery terminals are protected from short circuits, e.g. By being enclosed within a battery container.
  • The battery must be securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid and accepted as checked baggage normally.
  • Electrical circuits have been inhibited (by means of switch) or disconnecting the poles and insulating them.
  • The mobility aids must be carried in a manner such that they are protected from being damaged by the movement of baggage, mail, or other cargo.


Wheelchairs with Removable Battery

  • The battery must not exceed 300 Wh.
  • A maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares each not exceeding 160 Wh may be carried in the passenger cabin.
  • The battery must be removed.
  • The wheelchair / mobility aid may then be carried as checked baggage without restriction.
  • The battery must be protected from short circuit by insulating the terminals (e.g., by taping over exposed terminals).
  • The removed battery must be protected from damage (e.g.) by placing each battery in a protective pouch. The battery must be carried in the customer cabin.
  • Removal of the battery from the device must be performed by following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.

 
How to Determine The Watt Hours:

If the battery you wish to ship is rated at 11.1 volts and 4,400 mAh per cell:

  • 4,400 mAh is 4,400 milli-ampere hours. Since most batteries have a low ampere hour rating, they are rated in milli-amperes per hour (mAh), one thousandth of an ampere hour (Ah).

  • Since a milliampere hour is one thousandth of an ampere hour, divide 4,400 mAh by 1000 to get ampere hours (Ah).

( 4,400 mAh ÷ 1000 = 4.4 Ampere hours )

  • To determine the watt hours in this battery, multiply 11.1 volts by 4.4 ampere hours:

( 11.1 V x 4.4 Ah = 48.8 Wh )


Lithium Batteries in Electronic Devices

  • Lithium-ion batteries exceeding a watt-hour rating of 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh may be carried as spare batteries in carry-on baggage only.
  • Lithium ion/Metal (any watt hours) e.g.: Hover boards, solo wheels, air wheels, Electric bike, Segway, Car battery, Underwater lamp etc., are not permitted.
  • Lithium-ion: e-cigarettes, e-pipes, & other personal vaporizers, are not permitted except if installed in equipment. Recharging and used on board are prohibited.
  • Lithium-ion: Power bank (less than 20000 mAh not exceed 2 pieces, between 20000 - 32000 mAh not exceeds 1 piece, more than 32000 mAh Not Allowed). Recharging on board is prohibited.
  • Lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries or power banks without any clear marks of the Watt-hour or lithium metal content or where the watt-hour rating cannot be calculated are forbidden.

 
Procedures of Spare Batteries at Security Points:

  • The exposed terminals must be taped by plastic tape; or
  • Placing them in plastic bag; or
  • Leaving them in original retail packing.

Whether a lithium battery can be carried by air or not depends on its configuration and its Watt-hour (Wh) rating (for rechargeable lithium-ion/polymer batteries) or Lithium Content (LC) (for non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries). Because we only fly to airports with thorough security checks, your items will be confiscated if they do not meet the requirements.


Note:
 

  • For safety reason electronic cigarettes are prohibited (Used / recharging on the aircraft) Electronic cigarettes cannot be carried in checked baggage.
  • For safety reason power banks are prohibited (used / recharging) on board.

Smart Bags:

Carriage of any “Smart Bag” powered with a lithium battery or lithium battery power bank will need to follow requirements as detailed below:

For Cabin Baggage

  • Smart bags are allowed in the cabin if the battery is removable and within Air Cairo cabin baggage size and weight limits.
  • The battery can remain installed if the smart bag is completely powered off.
  • If the bag cannot be powered off or if the battery cannot be removed, the bag will not be allowed on SM flights. 

For Checked Baggage

  • Smart bags are allowed in checked baggage if the battery is removed and carried in the cabin.
  • If the smart bag exceeds the cabin baggage size/weight limitations for the route and the battery is not removable, then the smart bag cannot be carried on Air Cairo flight.