Virgin and Qantas to ban power bank use

[RB001]

Australian airlines to ban power banks following safety concerns

Virgin Australia and Qantas will ban the use of portable power banks from next month following a string of international incidents.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Flyerwin]

Technically it's not a full ban - as the article's summary says:

Virgin Australia passengers will from December 1 have to keep power banks within sight and easily accessible throughout flights.

Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar will introduce similar measures from December 15.

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.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed passengers would also be limited to two power banks, each under 160 watt-hours, in cabin baggage.

 

[Saab34]

I thought some have been in lockers and not in use when caught fire.
Access to charging isn’t as challenging as it was 10-20 years ago.
Just be done with the things.

 

[exceladdict]

Access to charging isn’t as challenging as it was 10-20 years ago.
Just be done with the things.

It's not as challenging as it was but it's hardly ubiquitous. Need some way to power up a device on a 4+ hour stretch and we are hardly guaranteed an in seat power point - the old USB A sockets next to IFE hardly work and when they do, seem to charge a device slower than it drains.

What's the penalty for non compliance?

 

[dairyfloss]

The issue here is obviously not limited to air travel; There seems to be a story on a lithium battery fire caused by an e-bike, power bank or other device in the local press every day. Houses are burning down and people being injured - sometimes fatally - as a result of these cheap, often unstable products that have exploded (yes, see what I did there) in popularity and availability through the online marketplaces out of China.

Someone needs to come up with a legitimate way to certify and mark which batteries are safe, and for those which are not, we ban the import and use of them. All airlines should agree to the same standard, and screening technology identified by airport operations. The cost of power banks would likely need to go back up, but it's a small price to pay. I don't use power banks often, but they do serve a genuine purpose, and should be something that travelers could carry with them and use, assuming this safe standard can be reached.

Is any of this realistic?

 

[Rich]

What's the penalty for non compliance?

Fire on board. Imminent death.