Brits are being cautioned not to pack a popular item in their checked luggage due to the potential safety hazards it can pose onboard the aircraft.
Brits gearing up for their summer getaways in the coming weeks and months are being alerted to a strict new ban on a popular travel accessory. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who are responsible for regulating and overseeing aviation safety, is cautioning UK holidaymakers against packing a familiar item in their checked baggage due to potential safety hazards aboard aircrafts.
The CAA has issued a warning that portable chargers are banned from checked luggage because of the fire risk they pose, which could be catastrophic if they ignite. Instead, these devices must be carried in hand luggage and should be completely switched off, not just left in standby mode.
The rationale behind this regulation, established since 2016, is straightforward. Should a portable charger malfunction or sustain damage, it can trigger a severe fire that would be unmanageable within the cargo hold, the Express reports.
The public body explains: “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.”
To comply with the safety measures passengers must follow a series of strict measures which include the capacity of the powerbank and protecting each device individually.
The instructed guidelines are as follows:
- Power banks must be place in hand luggage only and never checked in to the hold.
- Generally, they cannot exceed 100 watt-hours, however some airlines may allow 160 watt-hours. It is recommended to check with your airline before flying.
- Each device must be protected individually. This can be done by taping the terminals or placing each power bank in a separate plastic bag.
One airline has decided to take the ban a step further, with South Korean airline Air Busan banning power banks even from the overhead locker.
The budget airline confirmed that passengers on their flights must keep the devices on their person at all times.
Meanwhile, EasyJet allows passengers to carry power banks in their carry-on baggage, but they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.
There is also a limitation of two power banks per passenger and the devices must have a capacity of 100 Wh or less.
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The airline’s restrictions on power banks also apply to smart luggage in the cabin.
For safety purposes, the airline has stated that lithium battery/power banks for smart luggage need to be disconnected.
Although not every airline is the same. For example, British Airways allows batteries of up to 100Wh, including power banks, which can only be carried in cabin luggage and must be insulated from contact with metal.
Passengers are allowed to carry a maximum of two spare lithium-ion batteries of Watt-hour between 100-160. It’s mandatory that any power bank built into smart luggage is disconnected before being carried into the cabin.
