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Cabin Baggage Rules

Safety and Security is paramount at Gibraltar International Airport, and we follow strict guidelines enforced at airports worldwide.  To ensure your journey through security is easy there are some things you can do to help us along your journey.

Cabin Baggage Airline Allowances

Check with your airline with regards to pieces and dimensions of cabin baggage that you can take inside the aircraft cabin. Aircraft sizes vary and therefore there may be different restrictions in place.

Once at the airport, allow plenty of time for security screening. 

Hand Luggage Restrictions at Gibraltar International Airport

1. Overview

There are restrictions on what items you can take in your hand luggage and hold luggage when boarding a plane at Gibraltar.

Airport security staff will not let anything through that they consider dangerous - even if it’s normally allowed in hand luggage.

Hand luggage allowances

Check with your airline how many and what size bags you can take on the plane with you.

Check the rules for electronic items and devices you’re allowed to take on a flight before you travel - there are different rules depending on which country you are travelling to or from.

Taking liquids through security

There are restrictions on the amount of liquids you can take in your hand luggage. If possible, pack liquids in your hold baggage (luggage that you check in).

Liquids include:

  • all drinks, including water
  • liquid or semi-liquid foods, for example soup, jam, honey and syrups
  • cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara and lip gloss
  • sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray and spray deodorants
  • pastes, including toothpaste
  • gels, including hair and shower gel
  • contact lens solution
  • any other solutions and items of similar consistency

If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:

  • containers must hold no more than 100ml
  • containers must be in a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm
  • contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed
  • the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top
  • you’re limited to 1 plastic bag per person
  • you must show the bag at the airport security point

Liquids in containers larger than 100ml generally cannot go through security even if the container is only part full. There are some exemptions.

Exemptions

You can take liquid containers larger than 100ml through security if they:

You can also take liquids bought at an airport or on a plane (such as duty free) through security if:

  • the items are sealed inside a security bag when you buy them
  • the receipt for the items is sealed in the security bag and visible

You must not open the security bag until you reach your final destination. Airport staff may need to open the items to screen the liquid at the security point.

Liquid restrictions outside the EU

Countries outside the EU might have different rules on carrying liquids as a transit or transfer passenger. You should check these rules with the relevant airlines and airports before travelling.

Lighters

You can only carry 1 lighter on board. You should put it inside a resealable plastic bag (like the ones used for liquids), which you must keep on you throughout the flight. You cannot:

  • put it in your hold luggage
  • put it in your hand luggage after screening
Food and powders

Food items and powders in your hand luggage can obstruct images on x-ray machines. Your bags may need to be checked again manually by security. You can put these items in your hold luggage to minimise delays.

2. Baby food and baby milk

When travelling with a baby you’re allowed to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water for the journey. In some cases this will be over 100ml.

You can carry breast milk in hand luggage even if you’re not travelling with a baby. You cannot carry frozen breast milk in hand luggage.

Individual containers of breast milk must hold no more than 2,000ml. Each container will need to be screened at the security point. Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids.

Item

Allowed in hand luggage

Allowed in hold luggage

Breast milk

Yes, in containers up to 2,000ml

Yes

Frozen breast milk

No

Yes

Formula milk, cow’s milk

Yes (baby must be present)

Yes

Sterilised water for the baby

Yes (baby must be present)

Yes

Soya milk for babies

Yes (baby must be present)

Yes

Baby food

Yes (baby must be present)

Yes

Cooling gel packs

Yes

Yes

3. Personal items
Musical instruments

Contact your airline before you book if you want to travel with a large musical instrument. You may need to make special arrangements, such as buying an extra seat.

Musical instruments will be screened separately.

Mobility aids

Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are usually allowed in the cabin, but will need to be security screened first.

For battery-powered wheelchairs or mobility aids check with your airline first.

Other personal items

Item

Allowed in hand luggage

Allowed in hold luggage

Corkscrew

No

Yes

Spoon

Yes

Yes

Knife (with a sharp or pointed blade and/or blade longer than 6cm)

No

Yes (check with your airline)

Small scissors (with blades no longer than 6cm)

Yes

Yes

Large scissors (with blades longer than 6cm)

No

Yes (check with your airline)

Round-ended/blunt scissors

Yes

Yes

Fixed-cartridge razor blades (disposable razor)

Yes

Yes

Nail clippers/nail file

Yes

Yes

Tweezers

Yes

Yes

Knitting needles

Yes

Yes

Sewing needle

Yes

Yes

Umbrella

Yes

Yes

Walking stick/cane, walking aid

Yes

Yes

Pushchair

Yes

Yes

Wheelchair

Yes

Yes

Safety matches

Yes

No

Non-safety matches

No

No

Fireworks, flares and other pyrotechnics, including party poppers and toy caps

No

No

Cigarette lighter

No, but you can put a lighter in a plastic liquids bag and keep it on your person

No

Contact lens solution

Yes (up to 100ml)

Yes

4. Essential medicines and medical equipment

You’re allowed to carry essential medicines of more than 100ml in your hand luggage, including liquid dietary foodstuffs and inhalers.

You’ll need supporting documentation from a relevant medical professional (for example a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription). The same applies for gel packs.

Airport staff might need to open the containers to screen the liquids at the security point.

Essential medical equipment

You can take medical equipment with you if it’s essential for your journey.

The equipment is screened separately and you must show documentation from a qualified medical professional, such as a letter from your doctor.

Item

Allowed in hand luggage

Allowed in hold luggage

Tablets and capsules

Yes

Yes

Essential liquid medicines

Yes

Yes

Hypodermic syringes

Yes

Yes

Inhalers

Yes

Yes

Cooling gel packs

Yes

Yes

Medical equipment (for example CPAP and TENS machines)

Yes

Yes

Oxygen cylinders

Contact your airline

Contact your airline

5. Electronic devices and electrical items

The electronic devices and electrical items you’re allowed to take on a flight depend on the country and airport you’re travelling to the UK from.

Some airlines might also have different restrictions. Check with your airline before you travel if you’re not sure about what you can take as hand luggage.

Flights to the UK

Except for flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, the following restrictions apply to what you can take on a plane.

Item

Allowed in hand luggage

Allowed in hold luggage

Mobile phone

Yes

Yes

Laptop

Yes

Yes

Tablet devices

Yes

Yes

MP3 player

Yes

Yes

Hairdryer or straighteners

Yes

Yes

Travel iron

Yes

Yes

Electric shaver

Yes

Yes

E-cigarettes

Yes

No

Cameras

You can usually take camera equipment in your hand and hold luggage.

There might be restrictions on specialist equipment, for example professional video cameras.

Make sure your devices are charged

Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device does not switch on when requested, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.

Batteries for your device

Check the restrictions on certain types of batteries or contact your airline if you’re not sure what you can carry.

Gas-powered hair curlers

You can take hair curlers containing a gas cartridge in hand or hold luggage as long as the safety cover is fitted at all times. You must not take separate gas cartridges on board.

6. Sports equipment

ITEM

ALLOWED IN HAND LUGGAGE

ALLOWED IN HOLD LUGGAGE

Sports parachute

Yes

Yes

Heavy bats and sticks (including baseball, softball and cricket bats)

No

Yes

Tennis racquets

Yes

Yes

Snooker, pool or billiard cue

Yes

Yes

Golf clubs

No

Yes

Darts

No

Yes

Walking/hiking poles

No

Yes

Fishing rod

Yes

Yes

Catapult

No

Yes

Firearms (including replica firearms)

No

Check with your airline before you travel

Harpoon or spear gun

No

Check with your airline before you travel

Crossbow

No

Yes

Martial arts equipment (including knuckledusters, clubs, coshes, rice flails and nunchuks)

No

Yes

Diving equipment

Check with your airline before you travel

Check with your airline before you travel

7. Work tools

Item

Allowed in hand luggage

Allowed in hold luggage

Tool with a blade or shaft longer than 6cm (for example chisel)

No

Yes

Drill and drill bits

No

Yes

Stanley knife

No

Yes

Saw (including portable power saw)

No

Yes

Screwdriver

No

Yes

Hammer

No

Yes

Pliers

No

Yes

Wrench or spanner

No

Yes

Bolt gun or nail gun

No

Yes

Crowbar

No

Yes

Blowtorch

No

Yes

8. Chemicals and toxic substances

You cannot take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:

  • oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
  • acids and alkalis (for example spillable ‘wet’ batteries)
  • corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
  • vehicle batteries and fuel systems
  • self defence or disabling sprays (for example mace, pepper spray)
  • radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
  • poisons or toxic substances (for example rat poison)
  • biological hazards (for example infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
  • materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
  • fire extinguishers
9. Ammunition

You cannot take any guns or firearms (including air rifles and starting pistols) as hand luggage. You may be able to take them as hold luggage - check with your airline before you travel.

You cannot take any of these items as hand luggage or in the hold:

  • blasting caps
  • detonators and fuses
  • imitation explosive devices (including replica or model guns)
  • mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
  • fireworks and pyrotechnics
  • smoke canisters
  • smoke cartridges
  • dynamite
  • gunpowder
  • plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
  • flares
  • hand grenades
  • gun cigarette lighters
Lithium Batteries and other dangerous goods

Please click to watch the video below on lithium batteries and other dangerous goods for carriage on aircraft.

Hold (Checked-in baggage)

We advise you to pack all you can in your hold baggage (bags you check-in) including food items and powders as these can obstruct images on X-ray machines.  In this way, you will have less to carry through the terminal and your time through security will be quicker and easier. There are also items that you can carry in your hold baggage that you cannot carry in cabin baggage. Please note that the following items are prohibited and cannot be carried either in hold or hand baggage:

  • Oxidisers and organic peroxides, including bleach and car body repair kits
  • Acids and alkalis (e.g. spillable ‘wet’ batteries)
  • Corrosives or bleaching agents (including mercury and chlorine)
  • Vehicle batteries and fuel systems
  • Self-defence/disabling sprays (e.g. mace, pepper spray)
  • Radioactive materials (including medicinal or commercial isotopes)
  • Poisons or toxic substances (e.g. infected blood, bacteria, viruses)
  • Materials that could spontaneously combust (burst into flames)
  • Fire extinguishers

Please note that all the information included on this page must be used as a guideline and may vary as required.