By Kristy Sexton-McGrath, ABC News
Photo: 123rf
Australian airlines will ban the use of portable power banks from next month following a string of international incidents, including a mid-air fire on a Virgin Australia flight in July.
From 1 December, Virgin Australia passengers will be required to keep power banks within sight and easily accessible throughout the flight.
The devices cannot be used or charged on board, and passengers will be limited to two power banks, with larger units over 100 watt-hours requiring airline approval.
Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar will introduce similar measures from 15 December. A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed passengers would also be limited to two power banks, each under 160 watt-hours, in cabin baggage.
The moves come amid growing concerns about the safety risks posed by lithium battery-powered devices.
Virgin Australia's chief operations officer Chris Snook said the changes aligned with international airline safety standards.
"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," Snook said.
The airlines said passengers would still be permitted to charge their devices on in-seat charging ports.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it would soon release a report into the Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart, on which a power bank caught fire in an overhead compartment in July.
The incident follows several recent international cases, including an Air China flight that made an emergency landing last month in Shanghai after a lithium battery caught fire.
An Air Busan plane was also destroyed earlier this year at South Korea's Gimhae Airport after a similar incident involving a power bank.
The ATSB said there had been five in-flight fires involving power banks on Australian or Australian-registered aircraft since 2016.
Flight Attendants Association of Australia (FAAA) federal secretary Teri O'Toole had been calling for tougher legislation on the use of the devices onboard.
"It's important passengers understand these are very dangerous items in an aircraft and to follow the rules airlines put in place. At the end of the day, it's flight attendants who have to fight the fire," O'Toole said.
"The fact all the airlines are now aligning their policies is really positive. It means passengers get the same message and the same process regardless of who they fly with, and that consistency helps keep everyone safe."
Virgin Australia's chief operations officer Chris Snook said the changes aligned with international airline safety standards. Photo: AFP
Airlines tighten rules overseas
While international airlines, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and Korean Air all banned the use of power banks on flights this year, Australian carriers still allowed them, though rules varied.
Emirates was the latest airline to ban the use of power banks this month, also due to safety concerns.
"There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry," the airline said.
An International Air Transport Association (IATA) passenger survey found 44 percent of passengers travelled with a power bank, 84 percent of travellers carried a phone and 60 percent carried a laptop.
Dodgy power banks spark concern
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said reported incidents involving lithium batteries jumped 92 percent between 2020 and 2022.
Travellers were now carrying an average of four devices powered by lithium batteries, the regulator noted.
Since 2020, the ACCC has issued 17 recalls of power banks, and warned that around 34,000 defective chargers may still be in use.
"Some consumers have suffered serious burn injuries, and some have had their property damaged because of power banks overheating and catching fire," ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.
- ABC News
