Transporting Li-ion batteries via cargo hold of passenger planes banned

The International Civil Aviation Organization has banned transportation of lithium-ion batteries through the cargo hold of passenger aircraft until 2018 due to fire hazards. The ban does not affect the inclusion of Li-ion batteries in electronics.

The ban was issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization or ICAO, the organization affiliated with the UN overseeing international standards for civil aviation. The organization’s ban only applies to the transport of lithium-ion batteries via the cargo hold of passenger aircraft, not to batteries in, for example, smartphones and tablets that passengers and airline personnel take with them on a trip. According to the International Air Transport Association, this is stated in the amendment of UN 3480, Packing Instruction 965. Last year, the IATA already banned the taking of spare batteries in checked baggage in its guidelines; they may be taken in hand luggage. The ban is not binding, but most airlines adhere to it.

This is a temporary ban, which will take effect on April 1 and will last until 2018. By that year, ICAO must have reached agreement on new packaging performance standards for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries can now only be transported via transport aircraft, must then bear a ‘Cargo Aircraft Only’ sticker and must not be charged more than 30 percent during transport. Restricting the transport of Li-ion batteries via aircraft has been under negotiation for years. The batteries are known to carry a risk of heat build-up, fire and even explosions. In the past, there have been regular recalls from, for example, laptop manufacturers for this reason.

At the end of January, the Air Navigation Commission already advised the ICAO council to impose the ban. The pilots’ advocate, the Air Line Pilots Association, welcomed the decision at the time, but emphasized that no solution had yet been found for the risk of transporting batteries via transport aircraft. The Rechargeable Battery Organization previously indicated that it was disappointed with the decision, which would disregard the fact that a lot of work is being put into safer packaging for transport. That organization also points out the consequences for the transport of batteries for medical equipment.

According to the Wall Street Journal, lithium-ion battery fires have been linked to three transport aircraft accidents.

Update, 13.35: IATA guidelines with a ban on carrying spare batteries in check-in baggage included in the article.