Since June 28, the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) has issued new regulations: passengers are not allowed to carry spare batteries on domestic flights without a China CCC (3C) certificate, or if the batteries are recalled due to safety errors.
According to CAAC, this is a practical measure after a series of fire and explosion incidents involving lithium batteries, including incidents on flights of Air Busan and Hong Kong Airlines.
Only charging devices and backup batteries with a clear 3C stamp are allowed through the security gate. Declared 3C charging devices of unknown origin or recalled status will be banned on all domestic flights in China.
Violating passengers may have their batteries confiscated or not be allowed to board the plane.
The announcement also stated that CAAC requires airports to increase inspection in security areas, while equipping additional "drop-off" areas for passengers to handle invalid batteries.
CAAC also recommends upgrading the public outlet system at the terminal to reduce the need to bring personal backup chargers.
According to CAAC, there will be a record 730 million domestic flights in China in 2024. While most are Chinese residents, some include international tourists.
In recent months, many incidents of smoke and fire on flights have been related to the backup charger.
On May 31, a China Southern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen was forced to return 15 minutes after takeoff, after detecting smoke from a passenger's camera battery and backup charger.
Two months ago, a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong (China) had to divert to Fujian when a fire broke out in the air in the airspace. People suspect the fire was caused by a backup charger.
Previously, Vietnamese airlines simultaneously recommended that passengers carrying spare batteries should comply with the following regulations: spare batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage, not in checked baggage to avoid the risk of heat emitted in the luggage compartment.
Many Asian airlines, including airlines from Singapore, South Korea, etc., have banned the use of backup chargers on flights, although most still allow them in carry-on baggage, according to CNA.
Two major Chinese electronics manufacturers, Anker and Romoss, have recently recalled more than 1.2 million mobile chargers, citing a problematic battery that poses a risk of fire and explosion.
