Australia’s leading airlines, Qantas and Virgin Australia, have introduced new rules restricting the use and carriage of powerbanks onboard, following a rise in incidents involving lithium battery fires.
Starting 1 December, Virgin Australia will require passengers to keep powerbanks visible and easily accessible throughout the flight, while use and charging of these devices will be prohibited. Each passenger may carry up to two powerbanks in cabin baggage, and any model over 100 Wh will require prior airline approval.
Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar will enforce similar regulations from 15 December. Qantas has confirmed that passengers may carry two powerbanks under 160 Wh in cabin baggage.
The rules follow several recent in-flight powerbank fire incidents, including those that led to emergency landings and aircraft damage. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reports five such incidents on Australia-registered aircraft since 2016.
Authorities warn that low-quality products pose significant risks and urge passengers to use devices that meet proper safety standards.
Source: ABC News
