Aviation officials should balance safety efforts with passenger needs

South China Morning Post

7 days ago

Safety is paramount in air travel, so it is not surprising that airline passengers have tended to back
recent crackdowns on in-flight use of power banks after some were linked to fires. Traveller support was understandably in short supply, however, after a ban was
suddenly imposed on flights in China, causing chaos and confusion. The incident should serve as a reminder to aviation officials in the country and around the world that safety measures must be balanced with passenger needs.
Many travellers were caught off guard by the strict emergency ban announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. It was announced two days before it was imposed on June 28. Notices at airports indicated the ban applied to all lithium-based power banks without China Compulsory Certification (3C), safety and quality standards first issued in August 2023 and made mandatory a year later. Certifications from other jurisdictions were not acceptable. The ban also covered items made by several portable battery manufacturers that have recalled devices because of safety risks.
While international flights were reportedly not affected, domestic passengers said security staff were checking devices for 3C labels or for brands on a recall list. Several passengers complained on social media about power banks being taken away. Some posted photos of piles of banned devices discarded at checkpoints.
There is understandable concern about power banks. Airlines have long prohibited them from checked baggage but allowed them in carry-on bags. Many carriers in the region prohibited their use during flights after
a fire before take-off on a Hong Kong-bound Air Busan plane in January believed to have been caused by a power bank. Hong Kong
banned their use on flights from April 7 after a power bank was suspected to have caused
a fire on a flight to the city from Hangzhou.
The nationwide crackdown could have been smoother with an earlier notice and a wider range of certifications. This approach could have avoided upsetting travellers, especially those from overseas, and prevented the accumulation of electronic waste which poses its own risks. Efforts to ensure safety are to be welcomed, but they will have more public support if balanced against passengers' needs.