After a number of incidents of smoking or burning power banks—portable lithium batteries—a number of airlines have banned their use during flights, and one has even banned them from overhead compartments, requiring passengers to keep them at their seats.
The batteries have long been banned from checked baggage for fear that any fire might go unnoticed until a serious danger resulted, but have generally been allowed in carry-on baggage and have not been restricted in use.
Among airlines that have banned use in-flight so far are Taiwanese carrier Eva Air, China Airlines, and, starting this week, Thai Airways.
South Korea’s Air Busan has the most restrictive rule; after an onboard fire in January (above), it banned them from overhead compartments. The airline is inspecting carry-0ns at boarding gates. Bags that have no batteries get a tag that allows them in overhead bins.
