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What You Need to Know about Bringing Epidemic Prevention and Control Supplies on Board
While enhancing their personal safety and protection, passengers must also pay attention to ensuring aviation safety. Apart from the dangerous items that are normally prohibited from being brought on board flights, what common items for epidemic prevention and control are prohibited on board?
Q： Can I bring all types of personal protective items?
A： There is a wide range of personal protective equipment, including masks, protective eyewear, protective clothing and disinfectants. Some passengers may also be carrying thermometers and medications. There are no restrictions against bringing on board items that do not pose a safety hazard, such as medical masks, N95 masks, protective eyewear and general protective clothing.
Q：Can disinfectants be brought on board?
A： There are so many disinfectant products that we cannot give a general statement on whether they can be brought on board. We need to talk about them by type.
(1) Alcohol-based disinfectants
Most hand sanitizers today contain high concentrations of alcohol (anhydrous ethanol), ranging from 60% to 80%. Passengers may neither check nor carry on hand sanitizers if the alcohol content by volume is greater than 70%. Disinfectants that are ≤ 70% alcohol by volume cannot be carried on, but can be checked. When checked, they should be in their retail packaging, with each bottle not exceeding 500 ml, which allows a reasonable quantity for personal use. There are also products on the market that are marked as not containing alcohol, but they may contain isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a dangerous product for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on isopropyl alcohol.
(2) Hydrogen peroxide disinfectants
Products sold on the market with concentrations of 3.5%–25% are dangerous products for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
(3) Peracetic acid disinfectants
Products sold on the market with a peracetic acid content of 15%–20% are dangerous products for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
(4) 84 Disinfectant Liquid
This is a high-efficiency disinfectant that uses sodium chlorate as its main ingredient. Products sold on the market with an effective chlorine content of 4.0%–6.5% are dangerous products for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
(5) Chlorinated disinfectant tablets and effervescent disinfectant tablets
These can be distinguished as follows, depending on composition: Trichloroisocyanuric acid, dichlorocyanuric acid, sodium trichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, or a mixture of these, or chlorine dioxide, etc. Products sold on the market are solid, like tablets, but all are dangerous products for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
(6) Bleaching powder
Bleaching powder is a mixture of calcium hydroxide, calcium chloride and calcium hypochlorite. The main ingredient is calcium hypochlorite, with a chlorine content of 30%–38%. Bleaching powder is a dangerous product for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
(7) Potassium permanganate disinfectant tablets
Disinfectant tablets with a potassium permanganate content of 85%–95% are dangerous products for air transport. Passengers may neither check nor carry on such products.
Q：Are all products not mentioned in the above list of dangerous products allowed on board?
A： Not necessarily. It depends on the product's specific ingredients. Products may be brought on board if they have no risk of being flammable, explosive, toxic or corrosive. If a product has any one of these risks, you will not be able to bring it on board. This is intended to maximize the safety of all passengers.
Q: We have all been paying extra attention to our health during this epidemic. Some people have gotten into the habit of using thermometers to take their temperatures. What are the restrictions on bringing along thermometers when flying?
A：

There are different requirements for different kinds of thermometers. Mercury thermometers cannot be carried on and must be checked. Mercury thermometers must also be placed in protective boxes.

If you want to take a thermometer on your flight, we advise bringing an electronic thermometer. Please note, however, that if the electronic thermometer contains lithium batteries, the batteries must not have a rated energy exceeding 100 Wh and must not contain more than 2 grams of lithium. You may bring electronic thermometers that meet these requirements on your flight after taking short-circuit precautions. Of course, at present, passengers' temperatures are taken as soon as they enter the airport, so there actually is no need to bring your own thermometer. Moreover, passengers with a fever are advised not to continue traveling by public transport.
Q: It is not very easy to eat out during the outbreak in light of safety issues. When traveling, can I bring self-heating food onto a plane?
A： Self-heating food is now trending on the Internet. There are many varieties, including quick and easy hot pot, quick and easy rice, and self-heating drinks. Self-heating food products include heat packs or self-heating packs. These packs contain dangerous substances such as magnesium powder, iron powder, self-burning solid carbon or corrosive calcium oxide that release flammable gas on contact with water. For that reason, passengers are not permitted to bring such heat packs or self-heating packs on board. If you throw the heat pack or self-heating pack away, you can bring on board the rest of the food. However, you may neither check nor carry on self-heating food that includes a heat pack.
At-a-Glance Guidelines on Bringing Epidemic Prevention Items on Board
Type Carry-on Checked Restrictions on carry-on or checked baggage
Medical masks, N95 masks, protective eyewear, general protective clothing, etc.
Disinfectant Alcohol-based disinfectants Alcohol volume percentage > 70%
Alcohol volume percentage ≤ 70% Must be placed in retail packaging when checked. Must not exceed 500 ml per bottle, which allows a reasonable quantity for personal use.
Product is marked as not containing alcohol, but may contain isopropyl alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide disinfectant
Peracetic acid disinfectant
84 Disinfectant Liquid
Chlorinated disinfectant tablets and effervescent disinfectant tablets
Bleaching powder
Potassium permanganate disinfectant tablets
Thermometers Mercury thermometers Mercury thermometers must be placed in protective boxes.
Electronic thermometers If the electronic thermometer contains lithium batteries, the batteries must not have a rated energy exceeding 100 Wh and must not contain more than 2 grams of lithium. Passengers should also take measures to prevent short circuits.
Other Self-heating food Contains a heat pack or self-heating pack
No heat packs or self-heating packs
Other items may pose a problem depending on their specific ingredients, even if they are not among the above-mentioned dangerous products. Items that have no risk of being flammable, explosive, toxic or corrosive may be brought on board. If a product has any one of these risks, you will not be able to bring it on board. This is intended to maximize the safety of all passengers.
Source: CAAC Journal
Safety Measures
Travel Notice for Domestic Flights in China
Travel Notice for International/Regional Flights
Adjustments to Air China Service Policies
Additional prohibited items during the epidemic
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