General Baggage Restrictions
For the safety of our passengers, crew, and aircraft, the following items are either prohibited or restricted on all Ethiopian flight. Please ensure that you do not pack items specified in this list in your carry-on or checked baggage. Exceptions are medicinal articles which are necessary or appropriate for the passenger during the journey
Restrictions on Carriage of Lithium Batteries
Batteries and Devices Powered by Batteries (Lithium and other batteries)
Batteries spare/or loose, including lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries, for portable electronic devices
- For lithium metal batteries, the lithium metal content shall not exceed 2g.
- For lithium ion batteries, the Watt Hour rating shall not exceed 100Wh.
- Must be carried in carry-on baggage only.
- Articles whose primary purpose is as a power source, e.g. power banks are considered as spare batteries.
- These batteries must be individually protected to avoid short-circuit.
- Each passenger is limited to a maximum of 20 spare batteries provided item number 1 & 2 above are fulfilled.
NB: - Carriage of more than 20 Spare batteries may be allowed if request comes in advance and prior approval is secured.
- Lithium batteries with watt hour rating exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh for consumer electronic devices and Portable Medical Electronic Devices (PMED) or lithium metal content exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8gm for PMED only can be accepted with prior approval.
- Maximum of 2 spare batteries allowed.
- Shall be carried only in in carry-on bags.
- Batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.
Some examples of PMED: Automated External Defibrillator(AED), Portable Oxygen Concentrator(POC), Continuous Positive airway pressure(CPAP)
Portable Electronic Devices (PED) containing lithium metal or lithium ion cells or batteries
- For lithium metal batteries, the lithium metal content not exceeding 2g.
- For lithium ion batteries, the Watt Hour rating not exceeding 100Wh.
- Devices can be carried both as carry on and checked in bags
- When carried in checked in bag, devices must be completely switched off and shall be protected from any possible damage.
- The maximum allowable limit is 15 PEDs (if with-in above two conditions).
- Baggage equipped with lithium battery, other than lithium button cells, the battery must be removable, and it shall be kept in carry-on bags only.
NB: - Carriage of more than 15 PED may be allowed if request comes in advance and prior approval is secured.
These include or may not be limited to (when carried by passengers for personal use)
- Medical devices such as Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC)
- Cameras
- Mobile Phones
- Laptops and
- Tablets
- Lithium battery-powered electronic devices. Lithium ion batteries for portable (including medical) electronic devices, a watt hour rating exceeding 100 Watt hours but not exceeding 160 Watt hours. For portable medical electronic devices only, lithium metal batteries with a lithium content exceeding 2 grams but not exceeding 8 grams.
- Shall be allowed to be carried in cabin or as checked in bag with prior approval.
- Devices in checked in baggage must be completely switched off and need to be protected from damage.
Lithium Battery powered vehicles/motorized vehicles (which are not mobility aids) and commonly referred as air-wheel, solo-wheel, electric skateboards, hover-board, mini-Segway, balance wheels both as carry-on or checked-in baggage are prohibited, whether with or without lithium battery, as the materials are posing risk to flight safety.
To convert Amp-hours (Ah) to Watt-hours (Wh) multiply Ah x Voltage
The terminals of all spare batteries must be protected from short circuit by enclosing them in their original retail packaging or taping over the terminals or separate plastic bags for each battery.
Wh rating or Lithium metal content Configuration Carry-on baggage Checked baggage Operator Approval ≤100Wh(2g) In Equipment (PED or PMED) Yes (max 15 PED/PMED) Yes No Spare battery (ies) Yes (max 20 spare batteries) No No >100 to ≤160Wh In Equipment (PED or PMED) Yes Yes Yes Spare battery (ies) Yes (max 2 Spare batteries) No Yes >160Wh Must be presented and carried as Cargo in accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations >2g ≤ 8g In Equipment (PMED only) Yes Yes Yes Spare batteries for PMED Yes (max 2 Spare batteries) No Yes Smart Luggage with removable batteries
Smart luggage is a luggage that contains a battery used to power itself or to recharge other devices.
Smart bags are allowed in the cabin if the battery is removable and within the cabin baggage size and weight limits. The battery can remain installed as long as the smart bag is completely powered off. Smart bags are permitted as checked baggage if the battery is removed and carried in the cabin. The carriage of the smart bag shall only be provided the weight and size is with-in the acceptable limit.
Acceptance of Drones
For safety reasons, drones are not accepted on Ethiopian flight as cabin baggage. Drones can be accepted as checked-in baggage only. If you are interested to carry drones on Ethiopian flights, it shall be only in checked in baggage. The lithium battery shall be secured with in the drone or must be removed and kept in the cabin bag provided all other requirements are fulfilled.
| Examples of Lithium Batteries | |
 | Small Lithium Batteries and Cells include mobile phone batteries, watch batteries, power banks, MP3 player batteries and most original laptop batteries. The maximum rating for these batteries is 100 watt -hours ( Wh) |
 | Medium Lithium batteries and cells incl ude larger batteries and cells – examples include some extended life batteries for laptop computers, and batteries used by audiovisual professionals. A “medium” battery provides between 100 and 160 watt -hours of power. |
 | Power Bank: only 2 pieces of power banks, not exceeding 160 W H, are permitted in carry-on baggage. If it exceeds 160 W H it shall be transported as cargo on cargo aircraft only. |
 | Lithium Battery powered vehicles/motorized vehicles (which are not mobility aids) and commonly referred as air-wheel, solo- wheel, electric skateboards,hover-board, mini- Segway, balance wheels are prohibited both as carry-on or checked-in baggage whether with or without lithium battery. |
 | Large lithium batteries and cells are primarily those used in industry. A large rechargeable battery provides over 160 watt -hours of power. Large batteries may be found in some electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as mobility devices and scooters. |
Note: Spare Lithium Battery (batteries which are not installed in equipment), including power banks is prohibited as checked-in baggage and/or as cargo on passenger aircraft.
For passengers with flights departing from Korea
Lithium Batteries shall not be placed in check-in baggage. And,Lithium Batteries in equipment (including mobile phone) is allowed only 5 (not exceeded 100watt) in Carry-On/hand baggage.
Rules in checked baggage
- Dangerous goods are articles or substances which are capable of presenting significant risk to health, safety or to property when transported by air.
- For safety reasons, dangerous articles as defined in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, such as those listed here below shall not be carried as, within, or as part of passengers’ baggage.
- Brief-cases and security type attaché cases with installed alarm devices; or incorporative lithium batteries and/or pyrotechnic material;
- Spare Lithium Batteries
- Power banks
- Trionic briefcases – similar to normal briefcases from outside.
- Mace canisters – similar to cigarette lighters and sprays.
- Gases (flammable, non-flammable, deeply refrigerated and poisonous) such as butane, oxygen, liquid nitrogen, aqualung cylinders.
- Corrosive materials (such as acids, alkalis, mercury and wet cell batteries).
- Etiologic agents.
- Explosive, munitions fireworks and flares.
- Flammable liquids and solids such as lighter or heating fuels, matches, paints, thinners, fire-lighters.
- Oxidizing materials such as bleaching powder, and peroxides.
- Poisons and infectious substances such as insecticides, weed-killers and live virus materials.
- Radioactive materials.
- Other dangerous articles such as magnetized materials, offensive or irritating materials as listed in the IATA Dangerous Articles Regulations.
Rules on carry-on baggage
Passengers are not allowed to carry the following items in their hand baggage for passengers’ safety and security reasons. To minimize inconvenience, you are advised to check in or put these items in your checked baggage instead:
- Knives (including hunting knives, swords, and pocket knives)
- Scissors and any other sharp/bladed objects (e.g. ice-pick, nail clippers) considered illegal by local law
- Weapons such as whips, nan-chakus, baton, or stun gun
- Toys guns/gun shaped items or look-alikes, hand-cuffs
- Sporting equipment such as baseball/cricket bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks, billiard cues
- Devices with spill able batteries
- Aerosols (hair sprays, perfumes, medicines containing alcohol) not exceeding 0.5KG/L per article and 2.0KG/L in total weight
- Baby strollers
- Spare Lithium Batteries (not more than 2 pieces allowed if the watt-hour rating exceeding 100Wh but not exceeding 160Wh/ Lithium content exceeding 2g but not exceeding 8g)
- Power banks (only 2 pieces allowed as long as watt-hour rating is not exceeding 160Wh)
- Any other items which are deemed security hazards by local law
- Any other items that resemble or have similar functions to the above items
Please note that these items will be retrieved at the boarding gate by the local authorities and depending on local rules and regulations, the items may not be returned to you
Liquid and Gels in Hand Baggage
As of 1 June 2007, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommends all liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols up to 100 ml must be carried in one transparent and resealable plastic bag to a maximum capacity of 1 Litre. The transparent bag dimensions should not exceed 20 cm x 20 cm or 8 inches x 8 inches. Containers over 100 ml will not be accepted even if they are partialy full. All items must fit comfortably in the plastic bag. You are required to produce your clear transparent bag of liquids separately for security screening.
There are no restrictions on baby food and medication. However, you will be required to produce a medical certificate for medication taken onboard.
General
When you travel abroad, it is recommended that you know basic entry and security regulations of your destination country by checking available websites. For example, if you are traveling to U.S.A. then we suggest to check www.tsa.gov web site for detail information.
