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All three major Australian airlines will ban the use of portable power banks in-flight following a number of high-profile fires.
Virgin Australia will ban the use and charging of power banks on board from 1 December, with Qantas and Jetstar to follow as of 15 December. The airlines had initiated a review of their power bank policies following a fire on board a Virgin flight in July.
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Guests on Virgin flights will be permitted to carry a maximum of two power banks, which – along with spare batteries and small portable electronic devices – must be easily accessible throughout the flight and not stored in overhead bins.
“Safety is, and always will be, Virgin Australia’s number one priority. These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest levels of safety and compliance with international aviation standards,” said Chris Snook, chief operations officer at Virgin Australia.
“Globally, more lithium battery-powered devices are now being carried by travellers, and while these items are generally safe when packed and handled appropriately, this move will minimise any potential risks associated with these devices.
“The changes to the policy will be permanent from 1 December and reflect our safety-first approach.”
The same restrictions will apply to passengers on board Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar flights, Qantas Group said in a statement.
“Due to the growing use of power banks by travellers and the associated safety risks of damaged or defective lithium battery-powered devices, the changes follow a comprehensive internal safety review in recent months and work with other industry representatives including Virgin Australia, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Oneworld carriers,” the statement read.
“The changes are also informed by planned updates from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), expected in 2026.”
Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, South Korean Airlines, EVA Air, and China Airlines are among the carriers that have implemented bans on in-flight power bank use, while the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations require power banks to be carried in cabin baggage rather than the hold of the plane.
This is because a fire will be noticed a lot more quickly if it starts in the cabin, said Natasha Heap, aviation safety researcher at the University of Southern Queensland.
“Therefore, the cabin crew, who are the firefighters on board an airliner, will be able to get to that device quicker and start the extinguishing process – and so hopefully they can put it out quicker, because they’ve got to the fire quicker,” she told Australian Aviation.
“The danger of having such a device catch fire in the baggage hold is that no one will notice until the fire is extensive enough to set off the smoke and fire alarms in the cabin, but no one can get in there to then fight the fire.
“So, that is the concern. That is why it’s safer to have these devices in the passenger cabin, where people can see and react immediately if fire starts.”
According to Heap, a cabin fire is “one of the most dire emergencies that the crew can face”.
“It’s not like you can just throw these things out the window. If you’re driving between Brisbane and Sydney and your phone catches fire, you just pull the car over on the side of the road and everyone evacuates, so there’s no risk to life, but you can’t just do that in an airliner,” she said.
“These lithium-ion batteries and power banks can pose a significant risk, and so we need to manage that risk to ensure safety of all the passengers.”
Aviation lawyer Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law, said while it is “unlikely” that a battery fire would disable an airliner completely, it could cause “significant damage” and put the plane out of commission for several days.
“A battery fire could also require a diversion from its intended destination which would be very costly to the airline, which may have to foot the bill for overnight accommodation, meals and passenger disruption,” he said.
“Airlines fear liability claims for passenger injuries associated with battery fires, and the damage they can cause to carry-on luggage, and they’re seeking to mitigate these risks.”
Many newer aircraft, such as Virgin’s 737 MAX 8, Jetstar’s A320/21neo, QantasLink’s A220s and Qantas’ A321XLR planes, feature in-seat charging ports for phones and other devices.
