Singapore Airlines bans passengers from using power banks during flights
Traveling via Singapore Airlines any time soon? Here's something you should know: Using power banks will no longer be allowed during flights.
The Singaporean flag carrier announced on social media that beginning April 1, charging power banks via the onboard USB ports and using power banks to charge personal devices is prohibited throughout the duration of a trip.
Passengers may still charge their devices by plugging in their phones to the onboard USB ports directly.
"The SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries," it said in a statement on March 12.
With this new implementation, power banks should be in cabin baggage. They're also not allowed in checked baggage.
Additionally, the airline says power banks with a capacity between 100Wh (27,027mAh) and 160Wh (43,243mAh) are subject to approval.
Other airlines, including Scoot, Eva Air, and Thai Airways, are also adopting the policy.
Earlier in March, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced that power banks exceeding 160Wh are strictly banned on flights.
This comes after South Korea's Air Busan banned passengers from keeping power banks and e-cigarettes in luggage stored in overhead bins after one of its planes caught fire.
On Jan. 28, a fire broke out in an overhead luggage bin in the rear left-hand side of an Air Busan aircraft. This took place as the flight was preparing to depart for Hong Kong. All passengers were safely evacuated.
The cause of the fire, however, was not determined.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries found in laptops, smartphones, tablets, electronic cigarettes, and power banks.
