Eva Air bans use of portable chargers during flights

Taiwanese airline Eva Air will ban the use of portable chargers on board all its flights starting March 1.

According to the Taipei Times newspaper, the airline’s current regulations mandate that portable chargers and lithium batteries be properly stored in carry-on bags. They are not allowed in checked-in luggage.

The new move to ban the use of portable chargers and spare lithium batteries is aimed at improving in-flight safety, Eva Air told Taipei Times.

It advised passengers to fully charge their electronic devices before boarding their flights and to use the built-in charging outlets at their seats if needed.

Eva Air’s updated safety measures come after South Korea imposed a similar ban for its carriers on Feb 13. The ban was among

several strengthened aviation safety measures

the country introduced in response to a

fire on an Air Busan plane

in January, though the cause of the fire remains unclear.

Air Busan on Feb 4 independently

banned passengers from keeping power banks and e-cigarettes

in luggage stored in overhead cabin bins, in what it called a pre-emptive measure.

Following South Korea’s lead, China Airlines is also advising passengers to avoid using portable chargers while on board flights. It also does not allow for portable chargers to be packed in checked luggage for safety reasons.

Its regional carrier, Mandarin Airlines, adheres to the same regulations.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese carrier Starlux Airlines has prohibited the in-flight use of portable chargers since its launch in 2018. Instead, passengers are advised to use the provided charging ports near their seats.