Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific has become the latest airline to ban shipping lithium-ion batteries on both its passenger and cargo aircraft.
The company called a halt to carrying the batteries from April 15 until safer packing and shipping requirements are developed.
Cathay Pacific cargo director James Woodrow, who is also chairman of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Cargo Committee, made the announcement in the airline’s staff newsletter.
The move allows Cathay Pacific is comply with the ICAO Technical Instructions, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and the regulations of the State Civil Aviation Authorities (including HKCAD) for transporting dangerous goods.
A recommendation to ban lithium-ion batteries on passenger aircraft was made in a working paper submitted by the International Coordination Council for Aerospace Industry Association (ICCAIA) and International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA) to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
A Cathay spokesman said: “Having considered the content of this paper and participated in many industry discussions, Cathay Pacific has decided to suspend the carriage of lithium-on batteries.”
US based Delta Airlines and United Airlines banned the cargo earlier this year after fire safety tests by the US’s Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the batteries exploded once overheated.
Tony Tyler, IATA Director General and CEO, said robust regulations and guidance exist, but they were not being fully adhered to by all shippers.
Tyler said: “Regulators need to step up. The industry is doing what it can, but without oversight, surveillance and where necessary, enforcement, compliance at the source of the shipment will be limited,”
While unconfirmed, lithium-ion batteries are believed to have caused a number of cargo plane fires in recent years.
