Airlines banning passengers from using 1 popular item onboard

Vietnam Airlines (Image: Getty)

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air have recently joined other carriers in banning the use of power banks onboard. Several other airlines have introduced strict new rules regarding the use of power banks onboard this year. Air Busan became the first airline worldwide to implement such a ban after a power bank fire in January forced one of its planes out of service. Fortunately, no passengers were injured, but the incident caused significant damage.

Major carriers including Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines - each operating flights from the UK - have also imposed restrictions on power bank usage. Other airlines, such as Eva Air, Thai Airways, AirAsia, Tigerair, and Starlux, have adopted similar measures.

Adapting plane interiors to include USB ports should alleviate the need to charge on the go (Image: Getty)

The ban comes from growing concerns over the safety of  lithium batteries onboard. Last week, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in the US issued an updated warning after reporting 50 incidents concerning power banks onboard.

They said: "Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers.

"Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety."

Under the new rules, passengers will no longer be able to charge their devices using power banks during flights.

The battery packs cannot be recharged via inflight ports either.

While passengers are still allowed to bring power banks into the cabin, they must remain unused and kept in plain sight at all times.

Aviation authorities, including the UK Civil Aviation Authority, advise that lithium batteries and power banks should be carried in carry-on baggage and be completely turned off to minimise fire risks.