Controlled and Banned Items

For safety and security of our passengers, crew and aircraft, the items in the below categories are either restricted or prohibited to board our flights, in accordance with the dangerous goods regulations of International Aviation Transport Association (IATA) and the rules of HK Express. We suggest you to always check local airport information before you fly since regulations may vary by country. Some items may fall into more than one category so please read the below information carefully.

When flying on our airline partners, please visit their website for more details.

Liquids

Passenger is allowed to bring liquids in your checked or Carry On baggage as long as they are within the limitation as stated in below table. Please note that airport security personnel will remove items that do not meet these requirements before you fly.

ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Liquids, Gels or Aerosols (LAGs)
(E.g. Toiletries, Liquid medicines, Beverages, Creams & Food items)

Allowed and without limitation

  1. LAGs must not exceed a max. volume of 100ml for each container.
  2. LAGs must be packed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag with a total capacity of up to 1L
  3. Each person may carry 1 bag of LAGs
  4. Bag must be presented separately from Carry On baggage for security screening

Exemption (even exceeded the usual limitation):

  • Baby food and milk
  • Sterilised water stored in baby bottles
  • Liquid Medicine (Syrup)

All Subject to the inspection by local airport security

Alcoholic Beverages

  1. >24% but < 70% alcohol by volume;
  2. In receptacles not exceeding 5L;
  3. Total net quantity, in both checked and carry on baggage, per person of 5L

Note:

  • < 24% alcohol volume – no quantity limitation
  • > 70% alcohol volume - prohibited

If alcoholic beverages are purchased after security screening,

  1. >24% but < 70% alcohol by volume;
  2. In receptacles not exceeding 5L;
  3. Total net quantity, in both checked and carry on baggage, per person of 5L

If alcoholic beverages are purchased prior security screening,

  1. LAG limitation for Carry On baggage applies

Note:

  • < 24% alcohol volume – no quantity limitation
  • > 70% alcohol volume - prohibited

Insulated Packaging containing Refrigerated Liquid Nitrogen

Not Allowed

Non-Radioactive Medicinal or Toiletry Articles (including Aerosols)
(E.g. Hair sprays, perfumes, cleaning products, medicine-containing alcohol, non-flammable, non-toxic aerosols with no subsidiary hazard for sporting or home use, alcohol-based disinfectant and sanitizer products)

  1. Max. 2 kg or 2L per person; and
  2. Each single item must not exceed 0.5kg or 0.5L
  3. Item(s) must be protected by a cap or other suitable means to prevent inadvertent release of the contents

Note:

  • Other restrictions to LAGs apply to carry-on baggage during the security screening
Ammunitions and weapons
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Blunt Instruments
(e.g. baseball, softball bats, billiard, pool, cues, cricket bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, golf clubs, batons, knuckledusters, coshes, rice flails, num chucks, kubatons and kubasaunts)

Allowed

Not allowed

Explosives and Incendiary Substances and Devices
(e.g. ammunition, blasting caps, detonators, fuses, replica or imitation explosive devices, mines, grenades, other explosive military stores, fireworks, party poopers, toy caps, smoke-generating cannisters or cartridges, dynamite, gunpowder and plastic explosives)

Not allowed

Guns, Firearms and Other Devices Discharge Projectile
(e.g. Pistols revolvers, rifles, shotguns, component parts of firearms, compressed air and CO2 guns, signal flare pistols, starter pistols, bows, arrows, harpoon guns, spear guns, slingshot, ball bearing guns)

Not allowed

Objects with Sharp Points or Sharp Edges
(e.g. Axes, hatchets cleavers, ice axes, ice picks, ice skates, razor blades, open razors, utility knives, box cutters, knives, lockable or flick knives, scissors, martial arts equipment with sharp points or sharp edges, swords and sabres, darts and ski poles)

Allowed

Not allowed

Stunning Devices
(e.g. stun guns, tasers, stun batons, animal stunners and animal killers, mace, pepper or capsicum spray, tear gas, acid sprays and animal repellent sprays)

Not allowed

Worker’s Tools
(e.g. Crowbars, drills, drills bits, screwdrivers chisels, saws, blowtorches, blot guns, nail guns, hammers, pliers, wrenches, spanners)

Allowed

Not allowed

Batteries

HKE accepts certain types of batteries in checked or Carry On baggage with restrictions as listed in the following table. For passenger who owned a battery-powered wheelchair, please refer to the special assistance for more details.

Important Notice:

Apple has recently initiated a battery recall programme for MacBook Pro Retina, 15-inch units that were sold between Sep 2015 and Feb 2017 due to the batteries’ potential overheating and fire risk. This recall programme applies to selected serial numbers only which can be verified on Apple Inc’s Website. As such, Passengers are advised not to bring said devices which contain lithium batteries identified under the above-mentioned recall programme on board an aircraft, until they have been repaired as per the manufacturer’s advice.

ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Batteries, spare/loose,
including lithium batteries, non-spillable batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries and dry batteries for portable electronic device.
(e.g. Power banks, which primarily used as power source are considered as spare batteries)

Not allowed

Lithium Battery

  1. Batteries must meet the requirement of the UN manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3
  2. Batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits by replacement in the original retail packing or by otherwise insulating terminals (e.g. by taping the over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch)
  3. Max. 20 spare batteries lithium metal batteries with lithium content not exceeding 2g or lithium ion batteries, the Watt-hour rating not exceeding 100Wh;
  4. Max. 2 lithium ion batteries with the Watt-hour exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh; or
    Max. 2 lithium metal batteries (PMED only) with the lithium content exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g

Non-spillable batteries

  1. Max. 2 spare batteries per person;
  2. Voltage of each battery must not exceed 12V and the watt-hour must not exceed 100Wh;
  3. Battery must meet the requirements of IATA Special Provision A67 and must not contain any free or unabsorbed liquid

Fuel Cell and Fuel cells cartridges, spare

Not allowed

Large lithium batteries exceeding 160Wh (except Mobility Aids)

Not allowed

Battery-Powered Devices
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Baggage with installed lithium batteries – Non-Removable Battery

Not allowed

Baggage with installed lithium batteries - Removable Battery

  1. Batteries must be removed from the baggage
  2. Batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuit by placement in the original retail packaging or by otherwise insulating terminals (e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch
  3. Removed batteries must be carried in the cabin

e-Cigarettes (including e‐cigars, e‐pipes, other personal vaporizers)

Not allowed

  1. Max. 1 unit per person;
  2. Measure must be taken to prevent accidental activation

Portable electronic devices (PED) containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, including medical devices and consumers electronics (e.g. portable oxygen concentrators (POC), camera, mobile phones, laptops and tablets

  1. Max. 15 PED per person
  2. Batteries must meet the requirements of the UN manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3
  3. For lithium metal batteries, the lithium content must not exceed 2g
  4. For lithium metal batteries (PMED only), the lithium content must not exceed 8g
  5. For lithium ion batteries, the Watt-hour must rating not exceed 160Wh

If devices are carried in checked baggage

  1. Devices must be completely switched off and must be protected from damage

Note: For spare batteries, see Batteries, spare/loose

Radioisotopic cardia pacemakers or other devices, including those powered by lithium batteries, implanted into a person or fitted externally

Allowed on one’s person

Battery-Powered Wheelchair and Mobility Aids
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility devices with lithium ion batteries

  1. Batteries must meet requirements of UN Manual Tests and Criteria, Part III, Subsection 38.3
  2. Battery terminals are protected from short circuit (e.g. by being enclosed within a battery container)
  3. Batteries are either securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aids and the electrical circuits must be isolated following the manufacturer’s instruction; or
  4. Removed by the user following the manufacturer’s instructions
  1. Each lithium ion battery removed from the mobility aid must not exceed 300Wh.
  2. Max. 1 spare lithium ion battery not exceeding 300Wh; or
  3. Max. 2 spare lithium ion batteries each not exceeding 160 Wh.

Battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility devices with non-spillable, nickel-metal hydride batteries or dry batteries

  1. Mobility aids must be prepared for transport to prevent unintentional activation
  2. Battery terminals are protected from short circuits (e.g. by being enclosed within a battery container)
  3. Batteries are adequately protected against damage by the design of the mobility aid and securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid. The electrical circuits must be isolated following the manufacturer’s instructions; or
    Removed from the mobility aid following the manufacturer’s instructions
  4. Max. 1 spare non-spillable battery per person; or
    Max. 2 spare nickel-metal hydride batteries; or
    Max. 2 spare dry batteries

Non-spillable wet batteries

  1. Batteries are not permitted to contain any free or unabsorbed liquid
  2. Batteries comply with IATA Special Provision A67

 

Nickel-metal hydride batteries

  1. Batteries comply with IATA Special Provision A199

Dry batteries

  1. Batteries comply with IATA Special Provision A123

Not allowed

Battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility devices with spillable batteries

  1. Battery terminals are protected from short circuits (e.g. by being enclosed within a battery container)
  2. Batteries are fitted, where feasible, with spill-resistant vent caps
  3. Adequately protected against damage by the design of the mobility aid and securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid. The electrical circuits must be isolated following the manufacturer’s instructions;
    or
    Removed from the mobility aid following the manufacturer’s instructions when the mobility aid cannot be maintained in an upright position

Removed batteries must be:

  1. Carried in strong, rigid packagings
  2. Packagings must be leak-tight, impervious to battery fluid
  3. Batteries must be protected against short circuits, secured upright in these packagings and surrounded by compatible absorbent material sufficient to absorb their total liquid
    contents.

Not allowed

Flammable
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Camping stove and fuel container with or without fuel

Not allowed

Internal combustion or fuel cell engines

Not allowed

Safety matches and cigarette lighter
(“Strike anywhere” matches, “Blue flame” or “Cigar” lighters or lighter powered by a lithium battery without a safety cap or means of protection against unintentional activation)

 

Not allowed

Safety matches and cigarette lighter

  1. Max. 1 piece on one’s person.
  2. Do not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel, other than liquefied gas, intended for use by an individual when carried on the person

Specimens, non-infectious packed with small quantities of flammable liquid

Not allowed

Gases
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Gas Cartridges, small, non-flammable containing carbon dioxide or other suitable gas in Division 2.2 (non-flammable, non-toxic)

Self-inflating personal safety device, intended to be worn by person, such as life jacket and vest

  1. Max. 2 safety devices per person
  2. Each device must be fitted with no more than 2 small cartridges
  3. Max. 2 spare cartridges per device
  4. Personal safety device must be packed in such a manner that they cannot be accidently activated
  5. Limited to carbon dioxide or other suitable gas in Division 2.2 (non-flammable, non-toxic gas) without a subsidiary hazard
  6. Cartridge must be for inflation purposes

Other devices

  1. Maximum 4 small cartridges of carbon dioxide or other suitable gas in Division 2.2 without a subsidiary hazard;
  2. The water capacity of each cartridge must not exceed 50mL

Note: For carbon dioxide a gas cartridge with a water capacity of 50mL is equivalent to a 28g cartridge.

Gas cylinder, non-flammable, non-toxic worn for the operation of mechanical limbs

  1. Spare cylinders of a similar size if required to ensure an adequate supply for the duration of the journey

Hair styling equipment containing a hydrocarbon gas cartridge

Not allowed

Oxygen or air, gaseous cylinders required for medical use

Not allowed

Miscellaneous
ItemChecked baggageCarry-on baggage

Avalanche rescue backpack

Not allowed

Chemical Agent Monitoring Equipment

Not allowed

Dry Ice (carbon dioxide, solid)

  1. Max. 2.5kg per person when used to pack perishables
  2. The package permits the release of carbon dioxide gas
  3. Each item of checked baggage must be marked “Carbon dioxide, solid” or “Dry ice”; and
  4. The net weight of dry ice or an indication that the weight is 2.5kg or less

Permeation Devices

Not allowed

Security-type cases(e.g. Cash boxes or cash bag incorporating dangerous goods such as lithium battery and/or pyrotechnic material)

Not allowed

Thermometer, medical or clinical contains mercury

  1. Maximum 1 per person for personal use;
  2. Must be stored in protective case

Not allowed

Thermometer or Barometer, mercury filled carried by a representative of a government weather bureau or similar official agency

Not allowed

  1. The thermometer or barometer must be packed in a strong outer packaging;
  2. The packaging must have a sealed inner liner; or
    A bag of strong leak-proof and puncture-resistant material imperious to mercury, which will prevent escape of mercury from the package irrespective of its position