Baiyun Airport Issues Reminder on Vapes: Allowed to Carry, Not Allowed to Use!

Vapes do not require an open flame to be used, and they are also allowed on board, so some passengers assume that using a vape on an airplane is harmless. In fact, that is not the case. Reported cases show that on a flight from Shenyang to Nanjing in November, a passenger used a vape during descent and was stopped by the cabin crew. No smoke alarm was triggered, but the passenger was later given an administrative fine of 200 yuan. On a flight from Tianjin to Kunming in August, another passenger used a vape in the restroom during cruise, triggering the aircraft smoke alarm, and was later punished with 5 days of administrative detention.

Why are vapes allowed to be carried on a plane but not allowed to be used?

These two requirements may seem contradictory, but they are actually consistent, as both are based on aviation safety standards.

On one hand, vapes are considered electronic devices rather than ignition sources, so they are not prohibited from being carried on board. The Air Transport Specifications for Dangerous Goods Carried by Passengers and Crew stipulate that portable electronic smoking devices containing lithium batteries, such as vapes, e-cigars, e-pipes, personal vaporizers, and personal electronic nicotine delivery systems, as well as their spare lithium batteries, may be placed in carry-on baggage or carried on the person, but must not be packed in checked baggage. At the same time, passengers and crew must not use or charge electronic smoking devices on board, and they must be individually protected to prevent accidental activation.

On the other hand, a vape is still a “smoking” product. Once someone uses it, it can become a factor that threatens aviation safety. In the confined and sealed cabin environment at high altitude, using a vape on board not only pollutes the cabin air and affects the travel experience, but can also trigger smoke alarms and easily cause disorder on the aircraft. The Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Civil Aviation Security state that smoking is prohibited in non-smoking areas on aircraft. The Rules on In-Flight Security for Public Air Passenger Transport further specify that smoking (including e-cigarettes) and the use of ignition sources constitute disruptive behavior on board, and crew members should first verbally stop such behavior; if the passenger refuses, control measures should be taken.

Since the launch of the special campaign to “lawfully address disruptive in-flight behavior and maintain aviation safety order,” civil aviation police have handled multiple cases involving passengers using vapes on board. It should be noted that using a vape on an airplane affects aviation safety, disrupts in-flight order, and violates relevant laws and regulations, meaning the user may face corresponding penalties. Article 23 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People’s Republic of China provides that anyone who disrupts order on buses, trams, trains, ships, aircraft, or other forms of public transportation may be given a warning or fined up to 200 yuan; in more serious cases, they may be detained for 5 to 10 days and may also be fined up to 500 yuan.

Aviation safety and civilized travel are closely connected to every passenger on board, and they require everyone’s joint effort to uphold. Even a small vape, if not used in compliance with the rules, can create safety risks and cause disorder. It can disrupt the journey and also bring trouble to the passenger personally. Only by strictly observing the no-smoking and no-ignition rules for air travel can journeys be safer, more orderly, and more pleasant.