A NUMBER of airlines, including several to a popular long-haul destination, are the latest in updating rules on a popular travel item.
Portable power banks have caused a number of issues on flights in recent months.
And as a result, rules regarding travelling with them on planes have been updated for all flights heading to, within and from Thailand.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has stated that power banks must now be stored in hand luggage, when previously they were allowed in checked luggage.
Passengers will be allowed up to two power banks but they cannot be used during flights.
The updated rules apply to all airlines that fly to, within and from Thailand such as Thai Airways, Thai AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and Singapore Airlines.
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And it isn’t just the airlines flying to Thailand that are issuing updated power bank guidance.
This week Aer Lingus changed its policy as well, with passengers now only able to carry up to two power banks in their cabin baggage.
A spokesperson for the airline told The Irish Times that the change is “in line with guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency”.
Airlines changing their rules and guidance on travelling with power banks comes as a number of incidents caused by lithium batteries – which are found inside power banks – have occurred on flights in recent months.
The batteries are prone to overheating and in a number of cases have even caught fire.
For example, on May 19, an easyJet flight travelling from Egypt to the UK was forced to divert to Rome after a passenger revealed they had left a phone connected and charging via a power bank in their checked luggage.
And back in July last year, a power bank caught fire on a Bangkok Airways flight from Samui to Hong Kong.
According to power bank brand Anker, “for those traveling to, from, or within the United Kingdom, you must adhere to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines.
“When it comes to carrying power banks on planes, UK regulations are very specific about how these items are stored.
“The CAA emphasises that terminals must be protected from short circuits.
“Major airlines like British Airways, EasyJet, and Virgin Atlantic all enforce the 100Wh limit for automatic acceptance.”
The CAA’s power bank rules are as follows:
- Power banks must be carried in carry‑on baggage
- Power banks must be individually protected when not in use
- Power banks must not be recharged on board the aircraft
- Power banks should not be used to charge other portable electronic devices on board the aircraft
- Maximum of two power banks per person