Qantas latest airline to impose Apple MacBook Pro flight restrictions over battery fire risks
Australia’s flag carrier and Virgin Australia say 15-inch versions can be stored only as carry-on items, but Singapore Airlines has banned all models on flights
Qantas Airways is the latest airline to impose restrictions on customers travelling with Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops after the company recalled certain models in June citing fire safety risks posed by the battery of the devices.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has reminded airlines to follow existing safety guidelines, which say electronics with recalled batteries should not be allowed on flights as cargo or carry-on luggage
The airline is banning all 15-inch MacBook Pro models from being stored in checked-in luggage, according to Bloomberg.
Instead, they must be switched off and stored in the cabin – in keeping with a new policy that is said to have gone into effect on Tuesday.
The policy change comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned some 15-inch MacBook Pro models from flights earlier this month.
The FAA has reminded airlines to follow existing safety guidelines issued in 2016, which say electronics with recalled batteries should not be allowed on flights as cargo or carry-on luggage.
Virgin Australia also said this week that all MacBooks are banned from being stored in checked-in luggage and must instead be placed in carry-on luggage.
Apple says the battery in a limited number of 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops, sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017, may overheat and pose a fire safety risk
Singapore Airlines recently said customers are prohibited from bringing 15-inch MacBook Pro models affected by the recall on flights – both as carry-on or checked-in baggage.
Apple issued a voluntary recall in June for a limited number of 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017.
The company said the battery in these laptops may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. It has asked affected customers to stop using the device until the battery has been replaced.
To see if your MacBook Pro is part of the recall, find your laptop’s serial number by clicking the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and choosing “About This Mac”.
If your laptop is a model referred to as “MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid-2015)”, copy and paste the serial number in the corresponding field on Apple’s support website to see if you are eligible for a free battery replacement.
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