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Passengers are being urged to make sure their phone is fully charged before they fly as Emirates becomes the latest airline to ban the use of power banks on flights. On October 1, the airline’s new rules came into force which means passengers are no longer permitted to use or charge their power banks on board. Emirates passengers can still bring one power bank on board which is under 100 Watt Hours, but they cannot use it. It must be stored in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you - and cannot be stored in the overheard stowage bin. They can not be carried in hold luggage, although this is a standard rule across all airlines. Other airlines which have banned the use of power banks on board include Cathay Pacific , Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE The move comes following a growing number of incidents worldwide in which lithium batteries have caught fire, including incidents where flight attendants were forced to extinguish flames after power banks have exploded in cabins and overhead lockers. One Sure Insurance has warned travellers to follow the rules and to make sure that their mobile devices are charged before they travel. A spokesperson for the insurance firm said: “Previously, most airlines required such power banks to be limited to 160 watt hours and kept in cabin luggage. “Then came the stricter rules where passengers had to keep power banks on their person or near their seats. However, with growing concerns, their use could entirely be phased out by airlines.” Experts are warning the new restrictions must be taken seriously by passengers. A major cause of lithium battery fires is a phenomenon known as thermal runaway - a chain reaction that can occur when a battery overheats or becomes damaged, leading it to ignite and release toxic fumes. The spokesperson added: “The move to stop the use of these charging devices should not be taken lightly. Once a thermal runaway is triggered, it can spread rapidly to nearby cells and make the fire extremely difficult to control. The fire emits toxic gases when alight and can reignite even after being doused with water.” Travellers are urged to make sure that their power banks show no signs of damage, and to ensure that the watt-hour rating and safety information is clearly legible. One Sure Insurance added that if passengers ignore the safety rules it could invalidate their insurance if an incident occurs. The spokesperson added: "Travellers don’t always realise that ignoring airline rules could also void their travel insurance if something goes wrong. “You must always buy products from trusted retailers and check company protocol from your airline before travelling.” For more of today's top stories, click here.
