Indian Airports Tighten Battery Restrictions: What UAE Travellers Should Know

Indian airports battery restrictions are tightening, and UAE travelers need to be aware of new enforcement measures that limit the number of batteries allowed in carry-on baggage. At Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, security officers have been strictly enforcing a rule allowing only two batteries per bag, including small alkaline AA or AAA cells.

Passengers have reported confiscations when carrying packs of five AAA alkaline batteries, with only two allowed to remain in hand luggage after screening. Officials emphasize that this is not a new rule, but heightened enforcement aims to enhance safety.

Emirates Airline’s policy aligns with international standards, permitting up to 20 spare batteries in carry-on baggage if individually protected against short circuits. However, for lithium batteries with watt-hour ratings between 100 and 160 Wh (consumer devices) or lithium content between 2g and 8g (medical devices), only two loose batteries are allowed.

At airports like Thiruvananthapuram, display cabinets near security checkpoints highlight restricted items such as lithium batteries, perfumes, lighters, and pepper spray to raise passenger awareness. Officers advise travelers to avoid carrying bulk packs of AA or AAA batteries as they are easily spotted by X-ray and may be removed.

Airports Authority of India’s prohibited items list includes “spillable batteries” among dangerous goods, with airlines like Air India reinforcing strict limits of two spare batteries under 12V or 100 watt-hours per passenger.

UAE travelers flying to or from India should review their battery-carrying provisions carefully, pack according to the rules, and separate batteries into different bags if necessary to avoid confiscations and travel delays.