Major airline bans power banks and battery packs onboard flights

The airline is the latest to ban the travel essential on board.

Singapore Airlines has joined the list of carriers to ban the travel essential.

The airline announced that from April 1, power banks will be prohibited on board its flights.

Customers will not only be unable to charge portable power banks via onboard USB ports, but also won't be allowed to use power banks to charge their devices.

Furthermore, power banks must only be carried in cabin baggage and are not permitted in checked luggage.

The new regulations, which also apply to the airlines low-cost subsidiary Scoot, were announced via social media this week.

The airline wrote: "Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without special approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval.

"We seek customers’ understanding that safety will always be our top priority."

The announcement prompted questions of how the cabin crew would enforce the rules, to which the airline stated: "Our crews are trained to remain vigilant and ensure that customers comply with in-flight procedures."

The post went on to explain that the SIA Group adheres with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries.

Lithium batteries pose risk due to a reaction called ‘thermal runaway’ which occurs when a battery overheats and can lead to a fire.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated: "All lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and undergoing a process called thermal runaway.

"Thermal runaway can occur without warning due to various factors, including battery damage, overheating, exposure to water, overcharging, or improper packing. It can also result from manufacturing defects."

This reaction is believed to have caused a fire that destroyed an Air Busan plane in South Korea earlier this year.

Fortunately, all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely, with three people sustaining minor injuries.

It was revealed on Friday by South Korea’s transport ministry that an interim investigation suggested the fire may have been caused by insulation inside a power bank battery breaking down.

According to global aviation standards, investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the battery failure, with the final accident report expected to be released within a year.