Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have both announced new rules that will ban passengers from using power banks or battery packs during flights this summer
In a move to ramp up in-flight safety, two leading airlines have declared a prohibition on the use of power banks and battery packs during flights.
Power banks, which fall under the category of lithium batteries, are known for their potential fire hazard due to their ability to produce intense heat. At present, airline travellers are restricted to carrying no more than two spare batteries with over two grams of lithium content for lithium metal batteries, or those with a watt-hour rating above 100 Wh, and these must be kept in hand luggage only.
However, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways are both implementing fresh regulations that will prevent passengers from using power banks or battery packs for the entire flight duration.
Singapore Airlines has announced that the new policy will come into force on April 1. It stipulates that passengers will not be able to charge their personal devices using portable power banks, nor can they charge the power banks using the onboard USB ports from this date onwards.
The carrier insists that power banks should be transported in cabin baggage and are strictly prohibited in checked luggage, reports the Express.
In a notice to its customers, Singapore Airlines further clarified: “The SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries. This means power banks must be carried in cabin baggage on all SIA flights and are not permitted in checked baggage.
“Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without special approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval.We seek customers’ understanding that safety will always be our top priority.”
Both airlines fly thousands of passengers to southeast Asia each year, with daily flights from Manchester Airport, London Heathrow and Gatwick.
With immediate effect from March 15, Thai Airways will impose a blanket restriction on utilising and recharging portable power banks in-flight in an attempt to achieve optimum safety levels for all crew and passengers.
Carriage of power banks is strictly forbidden from checked baggage, however, as long as certain standards are followed, permission is granted to stow them in hand baggage.
The airline said: “Strict security measures had been imposed in compliance with guidelines set by IATA regarding dangerous items, including spare batteries. Details are as follows:
“Spare batteries in carry-on baggage.
- THAI allows spare batteries in carry-on baggage, with battery capacities of less than 20,000 milliamp-hours (mAh) or 100 Wh.
- Spare batteries with capacities of 20,000-32,000 mAh or 100-160 Wh, passengers can take up to two packs in a carry-on baggage.
- A spare battery of more than 32,000 mAh or 160 Wh is prohibited in carry-on baggage.
“A spare battery is prohibited to be loaded in baggage checked-in in all case.”