The rapid rise of lithium-ion battery-powered devices across Asia-Pacific has brought new complexities to aviation safety. From smartphones and laptops to cameras and power banks, these personal electronic devices (or PEDs) are a constant travel companion – but also a potential hazard. Recent survey data from UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) offers a deeper understanding of how Asia-Pacific travelers across cultures and countries perceive lithium-ion battery safety, and what implications their awareness, behaviors, and beliefs may hold for aviation protocols.
To better understand these issues across the Asia-Pacific region, ULSE conducted a comprehensive survey of 3,478 travelers from 10 countries between Feb. 25 and Mar 20, 2025. The survey revealed near-universal carriage of personal electronic devices among respondents: 88% travel with smartphones, 42% with laptops, and 43% with power banks. With nearly 65% of respondents flying at least once annually, the study provides critical insights for developing targeted battery safety strategies across this rapidly growing aviation market.
While most Asia-Pacific travelers have a general awareness of thermal runaway, specific knowledge about which PEDs are powered by lithium-ion batteries and how to minimize risks remains limited. As a result of these knowledge gaps, nearly a quarter of passengers admit to risky behaviors like storing power banks and spare lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage where timely detection is challenging during flight.
Regional variations in awareness of risks, concerns around safety, and subsequent safety preferences are substantial. Airline travelers in ASEAN demonstrate higher awareness and concern regarding thermal incidents than their regional peers, and, as such, favor airlines with enhanced safety measures even at higher costs. This contrasts with Oceania (i.e., Australia and New Zealand) and East Asia (i.e., Japan and South Korea) travelers who lean toward airlines with standard protections at current fares.
The study’s findings offer promising paths forward. Nearly all Asia-Pacific passengers show strong support for battery safety measures, including more safety messages that communicate existing limits on the maximum capacity of power banks allowed on flights, restrictions on in-flight charging as well as limits on the number of PEDs allowed for each passenger. Furthermore, a strong majority are open to additional screening time and higher airline ticket prices for improved protection.
By expanding education and awareness efforts that build on passengers' demonstrated willingness to support enhanced measures, airlines and regulatory bodies can significantly strengthen lithium-ion battery safety across the Asia-Pacific aviation.