Today's Edition
ALLAN JACOB (DUBAI)
Emirates on Tuesday said a ban on the use of power banks in aircraft cabins would come into effect starting Wednesday, October 1.
Emirates is the first global carrier to impose restrictions on power bank use to mitigate risks of fire in aircraft.
Passengers may carry one power bank that is under 100 watt-hours but are barred from using them on board.
“Emirates provides in-seat charging on all aircraft, however, still recommends that customers fully charge their devices before flying, especially on longer duration flights,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline conducted a safety review after several incidents over the years in the aviation sector involving lithium batteries and took the decision to restrict the use of power banks for passengers.
“There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents on board flights across the wider aviation industry,” it said.
Emirates said power banks may not be used while in the aircraft cabin – neither to charge devices from the power bank, nor to be charged themselves using the aircraft’s power systems.
It explained that power banks primarily utilise lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. Their function is as a portable battery pack designed to recharge devices on the go.
These batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. The ions flow through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges.
If the battery is overcharged or damaged, it may result in “thermal runaway”. Thermal runaway in batteries is a self-accelerating process where heat generation within a battery cell exceeds its ability to dissipate heat, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable temperature increase.
Most phones and sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal trickle system which slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging, but many basic power banks may not have this safeguard, increasing the risk.
Passengers must now store power banks in accessible locations within the cabin to ensure that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond to incidents.
Emirates’ decision could lead to more airlines banning the use of power banks on aircraft.
The US Federal Aviation Administration, in its latest update on September 24, again raised concerns about lithium batteries.
“Lithium batteries, which power everyday devices, can catch fire if damaged or if battery terminals are short-circuited,” it said.
Devices containing lithium metal batteries or lithium-ion batteries, including – but not limited to – smartphones, tablets, cameras, and laptops, should be kept in accessible carry-on baggage. If these devices are packed in checked baggage, they should be turned completely off, protected from accidental activation, and packed so they are protected from damage. Requirements vary based on the type of device and size of battery, and on the air carrier’s restrictions.
Spare (uninstalled) lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries, portable rechargers, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices are prohibited in checked baggage. They must be carried with the passenger in carry-on baggage and remain accessible.
Smoke and fire incidents involving lithium batteries can be mitigated by the cabin crew and passengers inside the aircraft cabin.
If carry-on baggage is checked at the gate or planeside, spare lithium batteries, portable rechargers or power banks, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices must be removed from the baggage and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin.
Even in carry-on baggage, these items should remain accessible and be protected from damage, accidental activation and short circuits.
Battery terminals should be protected by manufacturer's packaging or covered with tape and placed in separate bags to prevent short circuits.
Rules for power banks use on Emirates flights:
* Passengers may carry one power bank that is under 100 watt-hours
* Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard
* Charging a power bank using the aircraft's power supply is not permitted
* All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available
* Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you
* Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule)
