Iata highlights risk of lithium battery fires on flights

Airline association Iata has launched a campaign to warn air passengers of the risks of lithium batteries in devices in carry-on luggage.

Iata’s ‘Travel Smart with Lithium Batteries’ campaign suggests rules for carrying phones, laptops, power banks and other lithium-powered devices safely when flying.

It comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ‘safety alert’ on the dangers of lithium batteries last month following an increase in fires on aircraft.

More: US aviation ‘safety alert’ highlights growing risk of lithium battery fires

The FAA urged carriers to “consider the hazard posed” by lithium batteries “in areas not visible or easily accessible”.

The risks were highlighted by a fire on an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Incheon last week.

Crew were alerted when smoke was seen coming from an overhead luggage compartment and managed to extinguish the flames. With the aircraft diverting to Shanghai.

Investigators identified as a lithium-battery fire following a series so far this year which has led a growing number of airlines to impose restrictions on the carriage of devices and bans on the use of power banks on flights.

Emirates and Flydubai became the latest carriers to prohibit the use of power banks on board from October 1, following the lead of Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Korean Airlines, China Airlines, Thai Airways, EVA Air and Air Busan of South Korea.

Etihad Airways also restricts power bank use and the charging of devices in flight, and US carrier Southwest Airlines requires portable chargers and power banks be kept “in plain sight”.

Iata has expressed concern at the lack of standardised guidelines on carriage of lithium-battery powered devices and hopes to forestall the introduction of ad hoc state regulations.

Nick Careen, Iata senior vice-president for operations, safety and security, said: “Lithium-powered devices can pose a risk if damaged or packed incorrectly.”

The campaign will be made available to airlines, airports and other travel partners and run on Iata’s social channels and website.

It follows an Iata passenger survey that found many passengers ignorant of the fire risk of the lithium batteries in their devices.

It found nine out of 10 passengers (93%) claim to know the rules on carrying devices, but half wrongly believe it’s safe to pack lithium-powered devices in checked luggage and 45% believe power banks can be carried in checked bags when they are prohibited.

Almost half of passengers (44%) say they carry power banks on flights, and one in three believe wrongly that there is no limit on the size of power banks or batteries allowed in the air.

■ Iata also launched a report on the supply-chain challenges facing airlines last week, estimating it will cost carriers more than $11 billion this year, comprising $4.2 billion in additional fuel costs, $3.1 billion in extra maintenance, $2.6 billion in higher engine leasing costs and $1.4 billion for stocking more spare parts.

Iata’s instructions to passengers on batteries

• Carry only devices and batteries needed.
• Be alert in case a device is hot, smoking or damaged, and inform crew immediately.
• Carry phones, laptops and other devices only in hand baggage, not checked bags.
• Keep spare batteries/power banks in their packaging or tape the terminals to prevent a short circuit.
• Remove all batteries and devices if hand luggage is taken at the gate to go in the hold.
• Always check an airline’s policy, as requirements may differ.
• Check battery sizes as approval may be required for large batteries (over 100 watt-hours).