Confiscations of vapes from checked-in air luggage soaring

• Author: Charlotte Cook, of RNZ
• Published date: 25 January 2023
• Publication title: Hawkes Bay Today

Almost 10,000 vapes had to be removed by Aviation Security in 2022 — up from just under 2000 the year before

Vapes, e-cigarettes, power banks and Airpods must be put in carry-on bags and not checked into the baggage hold because of the type of battery they contain.

Aviation Security said some types of batteries were at risk of exploding, catching fire, leaking acid or caustic chemicals, harming people and property — which was why they were removed.

Last year, 9839 vapes were taken from checked baggage, up from 1958 the year before.

In 2021, there were still some lingering pandemic restrictions and travel caution limiting numbers of people through the airports, which could have affected the number of vapes confiscated.

More than half of those vapes or e-cigarettes were taken from bags at Auckland Airport, New Zealand’s busiest.

It is a big increase on 2021 when only 588 vapes were confiscated at that airport.

Wellington Airport was second on the list for most vapes confiscated, followed by Queenstown.

Restricted items like vapes are only removed from bags that get checked into the hold — not the carry-on ones that go with you onto the plane.

Most of the restrictions are related to the batteries in the items.

Aviation Security said e-cigarettes, vaporisers and vapes were the cause of an increasing number of fires and injuries to people.

“Due to the risk posed by these items, the heating element or battery should be removed to prevent the vape or...