Australian carrier Qantas has joined a growing list of airlines in banning the 15-inch Macbook Pro laptop from checked-in luggage due to concerns that the battery might overheat and catch on fire.
A Qantas group spokesperson told Business Traveller Asia-Pacific that “until further notice, all 15-inch Apple Macbook Pros must be carried in cabin baggage and switched off for flight following a recall notice issued by Apple”.
In June, Apple issued a recall for 15-inch Macbook Pros sold from September 2015 to February 2017 saying “in a limited number of older generation 15-inch Macbook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk”.
Following the announcement by Apple, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned this version of Macbook Pros on flights due to concerns that the batteries could pose a fire risk.
Many carriers are cracking down on the Apple product, including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways who have both told passengers to refrain from bringing the 15-inch model either in hand-carry bags or checked in baggage.
Virgin Australia went a step further by banning all Apple macbooks from carry-on baggage. The airline issued a statement on August 26 saying “due to a worldwide recall by Apple of a number of Apple Macbook batteries, ALL Apple Macbooks must be placed in carry-on baggage only”.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency also issued a warning about the older generation 15-inch Macbook Pro model earlier this month, saying that passengers are required to keep it switched off and not use or charge the device on board.
