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Harvey Kong

Passengers flying with Hong Kong carriers will need to rethink whether they pack a power bank in their hand luggage after the city’s aviation regulator banned the use of the batteries while on board amid safety concerns.
While all four local airlines – Cathay Pacific Airways, its budget unit HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines – will have to follow the new rules, they can also make their own arrangements within the boundaries of the requirements.
The Post breaks down the details of the tightened rules.
1. Can passengers bring power banks on board?
The Civil Aviation Department on Monday said it would ban passengers of local airlines from using their power banks to charge any electronic devices or charging the batteries on board flights.
Travellers will also be prohibited from storing power banks in the overhead compartments.
This means passengers will need to keep power banks on them, or place the batteries in the seat pocket in front of them or in their hand luggage under the seat.
The new rules will take effect on April 7.




2. How can I charge my devices?
Passengers will be able to charge electronic devices using USB ports built into seats, where available.
3. What are the curbs on power banks on board?
According to the department’s latest requirements, spare lithium batteries can be stored in carry-on bags if each does not exceed 2 grams in lithium content or each one does not go beyond a watt-hour (Wh) rating of 100.
To avoid short circuits, the batteries must be individually protected such as by being placed in the original retail packaging, taping over exposed ports or storing each one in a separate plastic bag or pouch.
For batteries rated from 100Wh to 160Wh, each passenger is limited to carrying two and they must be stored separately and protectively. Batteries exceeding 160Wh are banned from aircraft.
Under the current rules, passengers are prohibited from taking lithium batteries in their checked baggage.
Warren Chim Wing-nin, deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ Aircraft Division, said the new measures reduced the risks associated with power banks to an acceptable level and a full ban did not seem reasonable.

4. Where can spare batteries be stored?
Chim said there were several considerations for passengers travelling with power banks.
He said they should not place any devices or portable chargers with lithium batteries in their checked-in luggage, adding that passengers should also adhere to rules limiting capacity and quantity.
Chim noted that passengers should also ensure the connections and ports of portable chargers were insulated such that a potential short circuit could be avoided. Travellers could consider placing their lithium batteries or portable chargers in a plastic bag, as suggested by some airlines.
While passengers can no longer store their power banks in the overhead compartments, they would still be able to place the batteries in the seat pocket in front of them or in their hand luggage under the seat, Chim said.
“If you find that your device, no matter if it is a notebook or a camera, is suddenly really hot when you use it, please immediately inform the flight attendants,” he said.
The expert also advised passengers to buy power banks from reputable sources and brands, in addition to taking good care of the products to prevent any malfunction caused by damage.


5. What should I do if a fire breaks out?
In the event of a fire, passengers should immediately alert the cabin crew, Chim said.
The cabin crew could then deal with the blaze by using a containment bag or fire extinguishers.
“When the item has not been fully ignited, the cabin crew will place the item into the fire containment bag, which will ensure that the fire does not spread even if the item catches fire inside,” he said.
“If there really is a fire, you will be able to spot it immediately now, as power banks are no longer stored in overhead lockers. You can inform the flight attendants, who can use water or a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.”
6. What actions will Hong Kong carriers take?
The four local airlines said they would adhere to the rules but they would have to work with the department on how to enforce the restrictions.
The department also urged passengers to check with individual airlines over their requirements.


Power banks on flights: which airlines and regions have tightened rules?

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Flying with a power bank? What Hong Kong ban on in-flight use means for you

Hongkongers can take pets onto MTR light rail trains on weekends from May 1

Hong Kong transport

Travellers on Hong Kong carriers will not be able to store power banks in overhead compartments. Photo: Getty Images

Passengers can charge electronic devices using USB ports in their seats. Photo: Getty Images

Hong Kong bans passengers from using power banks during flights

The Civil Aviation Department has expressed serious concerns over recent safety incidents involving passengers using lithium power banks while flying. Photo: Getty Images

A video screengrab shows cabin crew members and passengers using drinks to put out a fire in an overhead compartment on board a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou. Photo: SCMP

Flames rip through the Air Busan plane that was set to depart for Hong Kong in January. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Cathay to keep allowing power banks, as Singapore Airlines tightens rules

Flames ripped through the Air Busan plane that was set to depart for Hong Kong in January. Photo: EPA-EFE

‘Power bank fire’ on Hong Kong Airlines flight forces plane to divert to Fuzhou

A screengrab shows cabin crew members and passengers using drinks to put out the fire in the overhead locker. Photo: SCMP 

The fire broke out after the flight departed from the mainland city of Hangzhou. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Rule taking effect in April will cover all four local carriers – Cathay Pacific Airways, HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines


Rule taking effect in April will cover all four local carriers – Cathay Pacific Airways, HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines.


Hong Kong aviation

Cathay Pacific

Aviation

Hong Kong Airlines

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong society

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Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | Flying with a power bank? What Hong Kong ban on in-flight use means for you

Rule taking effect in April will cover all four local carriers – Cathay Pacific Airways, HK Express, Greater Bay Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines

1. Can passengers bring power banks on board?