Virgin Australia and Qantas are the latest airlines to restrict the use of power banks on planes after a spate of in-flight battery fires globally. Virgin Australia’s new policy will come into effect on 1 December. Passengers will no longer be allowed to use power banks to charge other devices on board.Portable battery packs must also be kept within sight and easily accessible throughout the flight, meaning they should not be stored in overhead lockers. There will be a limit of two power banks per person, with devices over 100 watt-hours requiring airline approval. Power banks exceeding 160 watt-hours will be prohibited.
Qantas and its subsidiary Jetstar will implement similar restrictions from 15 December.
At present, many airlines allow power banks in the cabin but not in checked bags due to the risk they could catch fire while unattended in the cargo hold. This year, various carriers including Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have also moved to restrict the use of power banks in flight due to the risk of lithium batteries overheating and igniting.
It comes as passengers are increasingly travelling with power banks and other lithium-powered devices. An International Air Transport Association survey found that 44 per cent of passengers travel with a power bank, 83 per cent carry a phone and 60 per cent carry a laptop.
Phones and laptops also use lithium batteries. Why are power banks the big concern?
Lithium-ion batteries can be highly flammable if manufactured incorrectly, stored inappropriately or damaged.According to Neeraj Sharma, a professor at the University of New South Wales’ chemistry school, there’s less quality control around power banks compared to phones and laptops, which typically come from more established brands.
There’s been extensive testing of the batteries that go inside products from major tech companies such Apple and Samsung, he noted, but this may not be the case for products from some other brands.
Qantas and Virgin Australia join a host of other carriers blocking the use of power banks on board. Source: AAP / Paul Miller
Wesley Dose, a battery researcher and senior lecturer in the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney, said: “Some lower quality, cheaper devices have fewer safeguards, which comes with an increased risk of an incident involving these products.”“Another reason behind some incidents involving batteries is improper handling and use, such as using the wrong charger or damaging the device.”
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warned consumers in July there was a growing list of defective power banks that were at risk of overheating and catching fire.
Virgin pledged to review its onboard battery policy after a fire, believed to have been caused by a power bank, broke out in an overhead locker on a flight from Sydney to Hobart in July. The plane landed safely and no injuries were reported.A faulty power bank was also the likely culprit of a fire in the overhead luggage compartment of an Air Busan plane in South Korea earlier this year, which severely damaged the aircraft and injured seven people.
The plane was preparing to take off from Busan’s international airport for a flight to Hong Kong when the fire started.
Is a power bank likely to catch fire on a plane?
The concern about power banks on flights is rooted largely in the fact that an aircraft is a far more dangerous environment for a potential fire. While battery fires are rare, the consequences can be quite severe, Dose explained, as they are difficult to put out and can release toxic gases.
“… the main challenge is that the potential consequences of an incident on a plane, especially while in flight, are more severe than other situations.”
Why do lithium batteries catch fire?
Lithium-ion batteries are energy-dense; they store a lot of energy in a small space. If something goes wrong inside, that energy can be released suddenly as heat — in some cases, in the form of a fire or explosion.“Batteries can sometimes catch on fire because they enter ‘thermal runaway’, where the temperature of the battery increases uncontrollably,” Dose explained. “This can happen for various reasons, including physical damage, exposure to heat, overcharging, and manufacturing defects.”
The vast majority of lithium batteries, when manufactured appropriately, are safe, according to the experts.
The risk increases with manufacturing defects, damage from dropping or crushing, cheap or poorly made batteries, overcharging or incorrect storage.
How do I safely use power banks?
Cheaper power banks can often fail to include safeguards that prevent overcharging and overheating. Sharma recommends sticking with reputable suppliers. It’s also important to be wary that damage to a battery pack can significantly increase the risks.Even with a properly manufactured power bank, if you drop it and notice a dent, you should consider disposing of it, Sharma said.“Taking responsibility of and looking after your batteries is important.”They should also be stored in a cool place, and you should unplug them once charged. It’s not advised to charge a power bank overnight.
