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Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
Rules for portable batteries on planes are changing
The rules around flying with portable batteries are becoming more confusing as some airlines and governments change their policies, citing the risk of fires. Southwest Airlines is the first of the four biggest U.S. carriers to tighten its rules, citing incidents involving batteries on flights across airlines. Starting Wednesday, it will require passengers to keep portable chargers visible while using them. Airlines in South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong have also either similarly changed their rules or banned the use of portable chargers in flight since a fire destroyed an Air Busan plane on the tarmac in South Korea in January. It was one of several recent aviation episodes that made travelers anxious. There is no definitive link between portable batteries and the Air Busan fire, and an investigation is underway. Because rules vary across airlines, you might find yourself having to repack or turn off batteries when boarding a plane. Here's what you need to know. Which airlines have changed their rules and why? Southwest passengers will not be allowed to charge devices while they are stowed in overhead bins. The rule will help flight attendants act more quickly if a battery overheats or catches fire, Southwest said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Agency requires only that devices containing lithium-ion batteries be kept in carry-on baggage, and the European Union's aviation regulator has similar rules. Rules vary among Europe's biggest carriers. Ryanair, a low-cost Irish airline, tells passengers to remove lithium batteries before storing bags overhead. Britain's EasyJet and Germany's Lufthansa do not. The South Korean government now requires that passengers keep portable chargers within arm's reach and out of overhead bins, saying that the rule was implemented to ease anxiety about the risk of battery fires. Major Taiwanese airlines implemented similar changes after the Air Busan episode. EVA Air and China Airlines announced a ban on using or charging power banks on their planes, although the batteries can still be stored in overhead compartments. Thai Airways, Thailand's flagship airline, said it would implement a similar ban on using and charging power banks, citing 'incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines, suspected to be linked to power bank usage.' Singapore Airlines and its budget subsidiary, Scoot, also announced new rules. Malaysia Airlines, the country's flag carrier, has banned using and charging power banks, and storing them in overhead bins. Hong Kong's aviation regulator has put a similar regulation into effect for all of the territory's airlines, including Cathay Pacific. Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is the United Nations agency that coordinates global aviation regulations, has banned lithium-ion batteries, which are the kind commonly found in power banks, from the cargo holds of passenger planes. But there is no industry standard on how airlines regulate power banks, said Mitchell Fox, director of the Asia Pacific Center for Aviation Safety. They have become a part of everyday life only in recent years, and some consumers may be unaware of the risks, he said. What risks do these batteries pose? Lithium-ion batteries have been used for decades to power smartphones and laptops and are commonly used in portable power banks. Each battery has a cell that can heat up quickly in a chain reaction that causes it to catch fire or explode. The FAA warns that this reaction can happen if the battery is damaged, overcharged, overheated or exposed to water. Manufacturing defects are another potential cause. Some products that use lithium-ion batteries, including smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, have strict regulations and quality control standards, said Neeraj Sharma, a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales in Sydney who studies batteries. Others, such as power banks, e-cigarettes, e-bikes, and scooters, are less regulated, he said, raising the risk of malfunction. 'Make sure you get your devices from reputable manufacturers,' Sharma said. How often do batteries catch fire on planes? The frequency of incidents involving lithium-ion batteries on U.S. airlines has been increasing. There were 84 last year, up from 32 in 2016. These included cases in the cabins of both passenger and cargo planes, where batteries caught fire, emitted smoke, or overheated. Portable chargers were the biggest culprit, followed by e-cigarettes, according to the FAA. For years, airlines around the world have required passengers to pack spare lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage instead of in their checked bags so that any smoke or fire from the batteries can be noticed quickly. In the cargo hold, a fire might not be detected by a plane's automatic fire-extinguishing system until it has become a critical problem. What do flight crews do when there is a fire? Fires in plane cabins that are caused by lithium-ion batteries are rarely deadly, and flight crews are generally well prepared to deal with them, said Keith Tonkin, managing director of Aviation Projects, an aviation consulting company in Brisbane, Australia. In many cases, passengers will notice that their electronics are overheating and inform crew members, who put the device in a thermal containment bag or water, with little disruption to the flight, according to the FAA. This article originally appeared in
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Rules for portable batteries on planes are changing. Here's what to know.
The rules around flying with portable batteries are becoming more confusing as some airlines and governments change their policies, citing the risk of fires. Southwest Airlines is the first of the four biggest US carriers to tighten its rules, citing incidents involving batteries on flights across airlines. Starting Wednesday, it will require passengers to keep portable chargers visible while using them. Airlines in Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong have also either changed their rules in a similar way or banned the use of portable chargers in flight since a fire destroyed an Air Busan plane on the tarmac in South Korea in January. It was one of several recent aviation episodes that made travelers anxious. There is no definitive link between portable batteries and the Air Busan fire, and an investigation is underway. Because rules vary across airlines, you might find yourself having to repack or turn off batteries when boarding a plane. Here's what you need to know. Which airlines have changed their rules and why? Southwest passengers will not be allowed to charge devices while they are stowed in overhead bins. The rule will help flight attendants act more quickly if a battery overheats or catches fire, Southwest said in a statement. The US Federal Aviation Agency requires only that devices containing lithium-ion batteries are kept in carry-on baggage, and the European Union's aviation regulator has similar rules. Rules vary among Europe's biggest carriers. Ryanair, a low-cost Irish airline, tells passengers to remove lithium batteries before storing bags overhead. Britain's EasyJet and Germany's Lufthansa do not. The South Korean government now requires that passengers keep portable chargers within arm's reach and out of overhead bins, saying that the rule was implemented to ease anxiety about the risk of battery fires. Malaysia Airlines, the country's flag carrier, has banned using and charging power banks, and storing them in overhead bins. Hong Kong's aviation regulator has put a similar regulation into effect for all of the territory's airlines, including Cathay Pacific. Major Taiwanese airlines implemented similar changes after the Air Busan episode. EVA Air and China Airlines announced a ban on using or charging power banks on their planes, although the batteries can still be stored in overhead compartments. Thai Airways, Thailand's flagship airline, said it would implement a similar ban on using and charging power banks, citing 'incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines, suspected to be linked to power bank usage'. Singapore Airlines and its budget subsidiary, Scoot, also announced new rules. Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is the United Nations agency that coordinates global aviation regulations, has banned lithium-ion batteries, which are the kind commonly found in power banks, from the cargo holds of passenger planes. But there is no industry standard on how airlines regulate power banks, said Mitchell Fox, director of the Asia Pacific Center for Aviation Safety. They have become a part of everyday life only in recent years, and some consumers may be unaware of the risks, he said. What risks do these batteries pose? Lithium-ion batteries have been used for decades to power smartphones and laptops, and are commonly used in portable power banks. Each battery has a cell that can heat up quickly in a chain reaction that causes it to catch fire or explode. The FAA warns that this reaction can happen if the battery is damaged, overcharged, overheated or exposed to water. Manufacturing defects are another potential cause. Some products that use lithium-ion batteries, including smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles, have strict regulations and quality control standards, said Neeraj Sharma, a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales in Sydney who studies batteries. Others, such as power banks, e-cigarettes, e-bikes and scooters, are less regulated, he said, raising the risk of malfunction. 'Make sure you get your devices from reputable manufacturers,' Sharma said. How often do batteries catch fire on planes? The frequency of incidents involving lithium-ion batteries on US airlines has been increasing. There were 84 last year, up from 32 in 2016. These included cases – in the cabins of both passenger and cargo planes – where batteries caught fire, emitted smoke or overheated. Portable chargers were the biggest culprit, followed by e-cigarettes, according to the FAA. For years, airlines around the world have required passengers to pack spare lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage instead of in their checked bags so that any smoke or fire from the batteries can be noticed quickly. In the cargo hold, a fire might not be detected by a plane's automatic fire-extinguishing system until it has become a critical problem. What do flight crews do when there is a fire? Fires in plane cabins that are caused by lithium-ion batteries are rarely deadly, and flight crews are generally well prepared to deal with them, said Keith Tonkin, managing director of Aviation Projects, an aviation consulting company in Brisbane, Australia. In many cases, passengers will notice that their electronics are overheating and inform crew members, who put the device in a thermal containment bag or water, with little disruption to the flight, according to the FAA. – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
The first major US airline has changed the rules around portable chargers and batteries — what you need to know
With anxiety of in-flight fires on the rise, airline carriers around the globe are changing policies surrounding portable batteries and chargers. In the United States, Southwest Airlines is the first of the four biggest American carriers to introduce new restrictions. Starting today (May 29), the airline will require you to have portable chargers visible at all times when using them. The new policy requires "customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight," a Southwest spokesperson told Tom's Guide. "Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted," they added. The spokesperson cited recent fire incidents around the world. The U.S. carrier is following in the footsteps of airlines from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong which introduced similar policies after a fire destroyed an Air Busan plane in South Korea this past January. Investigators have blamed a power bank for that fire. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Incidents involving lithium-ion batteries (which make up most portable chargers) on aircraft have been on the rise. Federal Aviation Agency data cited 89 reports for 2024 and at least 22 through the month of May this year, nearly double from previous years. Currently, the FAA only requires that lithium-ion devices be kept in carry-on baggage. The European Union has similar rules. However, policies range between airlines. Southwest lets you keep your battery as long as its visible. "In the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical," the Southwest spokesperson said. "Keeping power banks in plain sight allows for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard." By comparison, the low-cost Irish airline, Ryanair requires passengers remove the batteries before storing bags. After the Air Busan fire, South Korea introduced a law that mandates passengers keep portable chargers within arm's reach and out of bins. Several other Asian airlines introduced similar rules or local governments like Hong Kong have regulations going into place. Lithium-ion batteries have been banned from cargo holds of passenger plans since 2016, after regulations from the International Aviation Organization of the United Nations were introduced. The batteries can overheat or expand which can start fires, especially if the battery is damaged or improperly protected.. "Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium-ion battery fires in the cabin," FAA resources read. "Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium-ion battery or portable electronic device is overheating, expanding, smoking, or burning." Tom's Guide has reached out to the other big airlines (American, Delta and United) to see if they are considering implementing a similar policy. We will update this story if they respond.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
CAA warns UK travellers of cabin luggage rule that could be ‘catastrophic' if ignored
THE CAA has warned travellers of a cabin luggage rule that could be catastrophic if ignored. The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which maintains aviation safety in the UK, warned that holidaymakers who flout the rule could be at risk of causing "serious injury" to other travellers. Lithium batteries are found in any device with a rechargeable battery, such as power banks, headphones, phones and e-cigarettes. According to the CAA website: "Poorly manufactured, faulty and misused lithium batteries and those which have not been protected against short circuit can experience something called 'thermal runaway'. "This results in them getting so hot that they can catch fire, explode and ignite other nearby batteries. "If that were to happen on the flight deck it could significantly disrupt the operation of the aircraft and cause serious injury to flight crew. "Similarly, if such an event occurred in the passenger cabin it could cause serious injury to a passenger or crew member. "Accordingly, Controlled portable electronic devices (C-PEDs) are subject to safety design and operational standards." Back in January, a n Air Busan plane caught on fire due to a malfunctioning power bank, which led to the plane being decommissioned due to the extent of the damage. This led to a full ban of power banks being taken in hand luggage, the first of its kind in the world. Other airlines have followed suit with slightly less restrictive guidelines, but still banning the use of power banks in the cabin, as well as banning them in overhead lockers. This includes Eva Air, Thai Airways and Air Asia as well as Tigerair and Starlux. Watch horror moment boxes of batteries suddenly explode sparking horrific factory inferno that killed 23 workers Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines - who operate flights from the UK - have also introduced the strict power bank ban. Last year, a fire broke out on an Asiana Airlines flight because of an overheating power bank. Aerospace design lecturer Sonya Brown told Australian media: "When lithium-ion batteries start to deteriorate, they often expand, which is a key indicator that the battery should not be used anymore. "Having them with people waiting to be detected sooner is safer." It comes days after the US Transportation Security Administration updated its guidelines on checked luggage restrictions in regard to power banks. They must only be in hand luggage, not checked luggage. But some rules have been eased - 11 new items are allowed in hand luggage in the US including certain medications and food. What do the new power bank rules mean for travellers? The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot weighs in. AS staying connected becomes ever-more important, a ban on the handy gadget that can keep our devices topped up could be seen as a pain. But the catastrophic consequences of a fire on a plane are an obvious reason to make rules stricter. After countless incidents - and with so many counterfeit and faulty goods out there - it makes sense they are cracking down. But airlines do need to understand the need for us to be able to top up our devices in the air. With plans afoot to get rid of physical boarding passes in the coming years, making sure we're able to use our devices will become ever more essential. Adapting plane interiors to include USB ports will alleviate the need to top up on the go. And more needs to be done to highlight the new rules - and the dangers these devices can pose.
CNET
21-05-2025
- CNET
Southwest Airlines Says You Can't Use Portable Chargers Inside Your Bags
Southwest Airlines is implementing a new safety policy, effective May 28, requiring passengers to keep portable phone chargers and power banks visible during flights when you're charging a device. The airline will prohibit the use of these devices while they're stored in carry-on bags or overhead bins, aiming to mitigate the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. This policy change comes in response to a series of incidents involving overheating lithium-ion batteries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been 22 battery-related incidents on flights in 2025 alone, following a record 89 such events in 2024. Notably, a fire aboard an Air Busan flight in South Korea in January -- suspected to have been caused by a power bank with deteriorated insulation -- led to the evacuation of 176 people, including passengers and crew. Read more: The Best Way to Pack Your Carry-On Bag to Breeze Through TSA Lines While the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration currently allow lithium-powered devices, like e-cigarettes and power banks, in carry-on luggage but prohibit them in checked bags, they do not mandate that portable chargers be kept in plain sight. Southwest's new policy goes a step further, aligning with practices already adopted by some Asia-based carriers, including Singapore Airlines, AirAsia and all South Korean airlines, according to Reuters. This move by Southwest Airlines reflects a growing concern in the aviation industry regarding the safe transport and use of lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. Passengers are encouraged to stay informed about airline policies and to handle electronic devices with care to ensure a safe travel experience. "Southwest will introduce a first-in-industry safety policy on May 28 requiring customers to keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight," Southwest Airlines confirmed in a statement to CNET via email. "Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees." For more travel-related articles, explore these travel essentials you need for every vacation and then take a look at this travel checklist. You should also read about the new Real ID requirement for getting through airport security.
