Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Jetstar has confirmed the use of portable power banks on all of its New Zealand flights will be banned from 15 December, as Air New Zealand looks into the matter also.
All Qantas Group flights, which included Jetstar would introduce the measures next month that would prohibit passengers from using or charging power banks on board.
A Jetstar spokesperson confirmed this would impact New Zealand flights.
"Due to the growing use of portable power banks by travellers and the safety risks of damaged or defective lithium battery-powered devices, the changes follow an internal safety review," a release from Qantas group said.
Along with using or charging power banks during a flight, passengers on Jetstar flights would only be allowed to take up to two power banks with them in cabin baggage.
Power banks, spare batteries and personal electronic devices need to be with the passenger or within easy reach.
Power banks must be easily reachable in case of an emergency. (File photo) Photo: 123rf
"It needs to be within easy reach during a flight to ensure in the rare event of an issue crew can respond quickly."
It said power banks would continue to be prohibited from checked baggage.
A spokesperson for Air New Zealand said the airline was looking into the matter, and an update for Air NZ customers would be available next week.
The moves come amid growing concerns about the safety risks posed by lithium battery-powered devices.
International bans on power banks
Multiple international airlines including Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, South Korean Airlines and China Airlines banned the use of power banks on flights earlier this year.
Airlines have been making the changes to take extra preventative measures around fire hazards.
Power banks used lithium-ion batteries, which were known to be highly flammable and difficult to extinguish.
Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which was the United Nations agency that coordinated aviation regulations across the world, has banned lithium-ion batteries of any kind from the cargo holds of passenger planes.
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