Reminder to passengers flying Singapore Airlines: Starting April 1, the use of power banks while traveling is prohibited.
Singapore Airlines announced on their social media that it is no longer allowed to charge power banks using onboard USB ports and that they can no longer be used to charge personal devices while in flight.
However, you can still charge devices via direct charging using the onboard USB ports.
According to their statement on March 12, SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations where power banks are considered part of lithium batteries.
Because of this, power banks should be placed in cabin baggage and not in checked baggage.
The airline also reminds that power banks with a capacity of 100Wh (27,027mAh) to 160Wh (43,243mAh) must have approval before boarding.
Some airlines such as Scoot, Eva Air, and Thai Airways will also follow the same policy.
In early March, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also announced that power banks exceeding 160Wh would be banned from all flights.
This move follows Air Busan's ban on carrying power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead bins after a fire broke out on one of its planes.
On January 28, a fire broke out in the overhead luggage bin of an Air Busan aircraft as it was preparing to fly to Hong Kong. All passengers were safely evacuated.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but lithium-ion batteries are known to be rechargeable batteries found in laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-cigarettes, and power banks.
