Warning for travellers as China changes luggage rules
China bans many power banks on flights amid safety concerns
- China's aviation regulator has banned passengers from carrying power banks without specific Chinese safety certification markings on flights.
- The new rule also prohibits recalled gadgets and comes in response to a series of global incidents involving lithium battery products overheating on aircraft.
- Notable incidents include a fire on an Air Busan plane, possibly caused by a spare power bank, and a Hong Kong Airlines flight forced to land due to an overhead compartment fire.
- Lithium batteries in devices like power banks are a growing aviation safety concern, with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reporting a significant increase in overheating incidents.
- Airlines globally are tightening power bank regulations, with some banning their use on board or requiring them to be kept visible, complementing China's existing ban on in-flight charging since 2014.