Asia’s Airlines Crack Down on Lithium Batteries as Fire Risks Rise
Skift Take
A wave of new lithium battery restrictions from Asian airlines highlights rising safety concerns and follows several onboard incidents.
Airlines across Asia are imposing new restrictions on lithium batteries, reflecting heightened concerns over fire risks from power banks.
South Korea’s nationwide restrictions took effect this month, limiting passengers to five spare lithium batteries (each up to 100Wh) and banning those over 160Wh — roughly twice the capacity of a standard laptop battery.
Lithium batteries power many popular electrical devices and are often found inside portable chargers, also known as power banks. Larger power banks can exceed the 160Wh limit, making them subject to airline restrictions.
The new South Korean rules prohibit storing powe
