Despite several high-profile incidents, travellers in the Asia-Pacific area routinely bring devices powered by lithium-ion batteries on flights and still have little understanding of the potential risks, a poll has found.
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The survey indicated that a quarter of respondents reported storing these batteries in their checked luggage, and alarmingly, 28 per cent admitted to having no knowledge about the associated dangers.
However, 76 per cent of passengers said that an airline’s battery safety measures would likely influence their decisions when booking future flights, while 69 per cent were willing to pay more for a typical domestic flight if it included enhanced battery safety protocols aimed at reducing the risk of thermal runaway events.
Conducted by the standards development organisation UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) between February 25 and March 20, the survey polled 3,478 travellers from 10 Asia-Pacific countries. It found that 88 per cent travelled with smartphones, 42 per cent with laptops, and 43 per cent with power banks.
Despite the widespread presence of these devices, only 29 per cent of respondents correctly identified which personal electronic devices were powered by lithium-ion batteries, while 28 per cent confessed to knowing nothing about them.
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The poll also revealed that 24 per cent of passengers reported storing spare rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in checked luggage, while 22 per cent did the same with power banks. Both practices violate aviation regulations.