Safety Grounded: New Guidelines on Lithium Battery Carriage on Planes

Globally, airlines are tightening regulations on carrying lithium batteries in response to safety concerns. Incidents of overheating batteries on planes have increased, prompting changes in policies across airlines in South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more. The emphasis is on passenger safety and adherence to international guidelines.

Airlines worldwide are updating their regulations concerning the carriage of lithium batteries on planes, following a noticeable rise in safety incidents. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the incidence of overheating lithium batteries on aircraft has dramatically increased to three occurrences every two weeks in 2024, up from less than one a week in 2018.

In response, airlines in countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore are implementing stricter guidelines. For instance, South Korean airlines now require passengers to keep power banks and e-cigarettes with them rather than in overhead cabin bins. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's aviation body has prohibited the usage and charging of power banks during flights. Similar actions have been adopted by airlines in Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and other regions.

The International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations play a significant role in shaping these updates, requiring power banks to be carried in cabin baggage. While some airlines like Lufthansa remain unchanged in their policy adherence to IATA, others, such as Air India, continue to review policies amidst ongoing debates over the best safety practices.

(With inputs from agencies.)