Hong Kong’s Cathay to keep power bank ban for aircrew, but vows layover option
Carrier says it is working with hotels to offer power banks, as there is no ‘feasible way’ to let aircrew bring them on board amid safety concerns
The airline on Thursday told staff that on average more than one on-board incident involving the batteries occurred every week across the world.
“With this background in mind, we studied the option of allowing our operating crew to store their power banks in other closed compartments, for example, the cloakrooms,” Vincent Yu, the airline’s general manager of in-flight service delivery, said in an internal memo.
“However, given our in-flight duties, storing a power bank that cannot be monitored is a risk because it cannot be detected before it compromises safety.”
A copy of the memo was seen by the Post.
Cathay Pacific’s ban on the devices for operating crew came into effect on Monday, coinciding with the implementation of a separate rule from the Civil Aviation Department which bars passengers on local carriers from using power banks, recharging them or storing them in overhead compartments during flights.