Taiwanese airways EVA Air, UNI Air and Tigerair have banned passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds, together with Apple AirPods, in checked baggage
Some airways have a Airpod ban (Picture: Getty Pictures/iStockphoto)
Airways have begun clamping down on passengers packing on a regular basis, widely-used units in checked baggage, following sweeping bans on energy banks.
Over latest years, numerous carriers have prohibited passengers from bringing energy banks aboard flights amid fears they may ignite. Vietnam Airways, Vietjet Air, and, now, Emirates have all banned the usage of energy banks on flights, while Cathay Pacific launched a comparable ban that kicked in final April.
Now, sure airways have begun focusing on one other well-liked digital machine over related flammability issues. Taiwanese carriers EVA Air, UNI Air and Tigerair now not allow Bluetooth earbuds, together with Apple AirPods, to be positioned in checked baggage.
Such audio know-how comprises lithium batteries, very like energy banks. Because the earbuds are repeatedly charging while saved of their case, the chance of them abruptly bursting into flames is heightened.
New Zealand’s Aviation Authority has additionally established laws strictly forbidding the packing of AirPods and different wi-fi earbuds in checked baggage on flights inside its remit. Its web site states: “The wi-fi earbuds/ AirPods charger is a type of energy financial institution.”
The Kiwi aviation organisation defined: “Sure, you’ll be able to take wi-fi earbuds and AirPods in your carry-on baggage. They need to not go in check-in baggage underneath any circumstances. Every individual is allowed a complete of 20 spare batteries or energy banks of their carry-on, until an airline has authorized the carriage of extra batteries. The wi-fi earbuds/AirPods charger is taken into account one of many 20 spare batteries or energy banks allowed in passengers’ carry-on. Some airways, together with Air New Zealand, specify of their situations of carriage that you would be able to solely journey together with your wi-fi ear buds / AirPods chargers in carry-on and never check-in baggage.”
This follows a sequence of incidents involving fires on plane believed to be triggered by defective energy banks. This has prompted sure airways to reassess how transportable chargers could also be utilised on flights, because the lithium batteries housed inside can generate intense warmth in the event that they malfunction.
The primary service to impose a prohibition on battery packs was Air Busan, after an influence financial institution blaze in January final 12 months compelled one in every of its planes out of operation. Fortunately, no travellers have been injured, however the episode resulted in substantial injury.
The most important airline amongst these prohibiting the usage of energy banks is Emirates, the Center East-based aviation big. Administration introduced in a prohibition on utilizing energy banks on October 1, 2025.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), together with different aviation regulators, recommends that lithium batteries and energy banks ought to be transported in hand baggage and switched off totally to cut back hearth hazards. Their laws stipulate that the heat-producing part of a lithium battery-powered machine should be “separated” from the battery – which means the battery or heat-producing aspect ought to be eliminated.
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The laws state: “Any battery that has been eliminated should be protected towards brief circuit (by inserting in its unique retail packaging or by in any other case insulating terminals, e.g. by taping over uncovered terminals or inserting every battery in a separate bag or protecting pouch).”
Presently, no British airways have full prohibitions on Bluetooth earbuds being positioned in cabin baggage.
A spokesperson for Tigerair mentioned: “As a consequence of flight security issues, transportable digital units reminiscent of earphone charging instances and transportable electrical followers with built-in lithium-ion batteries can solely be carried in hand-held or carry-on codecs on board the plane.”
UNI Air mentioned: “Bluetooth earphones (together with the charging case) are categorized as Moveable Digital Gadgets (PED). For security causes, the airline mentioned Bluetooth earphones and their charging instances will not be permitted in checked baggage and should be carried in hand baggage as a substitute.”
All 14 airways prohibiting energy financial institution use aboard plane
- Asiana Airways: London Heathrow
- Cathay Pacific: Heathrow, Manchester
- China Airways: Heathrow
- Emirates: Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh
- EVA Air: Heathrow
- Korean Air: Heathrow
- Singapore Airways: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester.
- Starlux Airways: Gatwick
- Vietnam Airways: Heathrow
Not serving UK airports:
- Air Busan
- Hong Kong Airways
- Thai AirAsia
- Tigerair
- Vietjet Air
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