Cebu Pacific bans hoverboards due to safety concerns

MANILA, Philippines – Starting Monday, December 21, budget carrier Cebu Pacific will no longer accept for check-in or hand-carry hoverboards, other battery-operated personal transportation devices, and similar self-balancing vehicles.

A hoverboard (or hover board), used for personal transportation, came to wide recognition through the films Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III.

Cebu Pacific said in a statement issued Monday morning that hoverboards run on high-powered lithium-ion batteries, which have been widely reported to have a tendency to overheat or spontaneously ignite.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are used in consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptop computers. Non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries are generally used to power devices such as watches, calculators, and temperature data loggers.

“These devices pose a fire hazard risk and are deemed unsafe for transport especially in aircraft’s pressurized cabin and cargo stowage spaces,” the airline said.

Cebu Pacific also advises passengers that hoverboards will not be stored for safekeeping in the airport and ticket offices. (READ: List: Items banned from airplanes)

“We sincerely hope for our guests’ understanding, as everyone’s safety remains our priority,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement.

Singapore Airlines and subsidiary Tiger Airways also announced Monday the banning of hoverboards starting on this date, saying, “Singapore Airlines complies strictly with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations on the transport of dangerous goods, which includes lithium batteries.”

In July, legacy carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced that it would no longer accept lithium ion batteries for carriage as cargo, citing potential fire hazards posed by such type of shipment. (READ: PAL suspends cargo carriage of lithium ion batteries)

PAL then said shipment of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries packed with or contained in equipment are exempted from the suspension of carriage as cargo, in compliance with regulatory requirements on packaging and labeling.

PAL also advised passengers to hand-carry their equipment powered by lithium batteries along with their spare batteries. Carriage of spare lithium batteries would be limited. – Rappler.com