New guidelines for energy banks and batteries on planes – MyBroadband

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has printed new laws for transporting energy batteries and battery-powered units, similar to energy banks, on planes.

The adjustments are a part of IATA’s 2026 editions of key business manuals for cargo and floor operations, which embrace round 100 main adjustments and revisions to align with evolving world requirements.

The changes concerning energy banks and batteries are a part of the Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR).

The lithium-ion chemistry utilized in most fashionable electronics’ batteries, together with these in smartphones, laptops, and wearables, may cause explosions or fires, particularly when dealt with improperly.

While incidents are very uncommon when contemplating the widespread adoption, the IATA defined that the variety of lithium-ion batteries transported as cargo by air has surged 25% yr over yr.

“At the same time, the industry has seen several incidents involving overheating power banks on aircraft, contributing to the need for revised regulations around the shipment of lithium batteries,” IATA stated.

The first rule that travellers ought to pay attention to is that storing spare batteries and energy banks in checked baggage is strictly prohibited.

This is as a result of it may be tough to extinguish a hearth in a cargo maintain, the place it will probably go unnoticed for longer and rapidly unfold between individuals’s baggage.

Several surveys have proven that round half of flying travellers are unaware that they need to not carry lithium-ion batteries of their checked baggage regardless of airways’ warnings.

The new laws additionally state that batteries and energy banks should not be charged utilizing in-seat or in-flight energy at any time in the course of the flight.

They additionally can’t be charged or used to energy different moveable digital units throughout taxi, takeoff, or touchdown.

Furthermore, energy banks and batteries should not be positioned in cabin baggage in overhead lockers, they have to be stored beneath the seat in entrance of the proprietor or one other designated location, like a seatback pocket.

The laws additionally stipulate that lithium-ion cells with capacities of 20 watt-hours (Wh) or increased and batteries with 100Wh or increased full of tools have to be at a 30% or decrease state-of-charge.

Zero incidents on three largest South African airways

In current years, a number of worldwide airways have began prohibiting charging and discharging energy banks throughout flights, together with Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.

Some airways additionally advocate that clients use onboard energy shops to cost units like smartphones whereas in flight.

Although there was a rise in battery hearth incidents on worldwide flights, South Africa’s three largest home airways haven’t skilled one such incident to this point.

Airlink, Lift, and FlySafair just lately informed MyBroadband that they nonetheless enable clients to cost and discharge their energy banks in flight.

However, these airways comply with the IATA DGR with regards to dealing with lithium-ion batteries. If in addition they align with the most recent revisions, South African travellers can anticipate stricter guidelines to return into power.

With some home airways — together with Lift and FlySafair — it’s already not doable to cost an influence financial institution utilizing onboard energy shops, as these will not be accessible on its plane.

Lift additionally requires that passengers intently monitor their energy banks throughout flight to make sure no extreme warmth is generated throughout use.

“Should the device generate heat, pose a risk, or interfere with the aircraft’s electrical systems, cabin crew will request passengers to disconnect the device,” Lift stated.

“In the unlikely event something did overheat, it would trigger a diversion, which is standard safety protocol.”

All industrial plane are outfitted with hearth containment pouches, and cabin crews are educated on the way to extinguish and eliminate malfunctioning batteries.