India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has confirmed a new directive banning power banks from checked in bags on all commercial flights.
It comes as passengers groups have complained of confusing and often contradictory rules regarding the carriage of various electronic items.
These devices are powered by lithium batteries which has been susceptible to catching fire on aircraft in the past.
The devices will still be able to be taken in carry-on bags, DGCA says.
Jet Airways released a statement informing its customers.
"In the interest of safety and as mandated by the DGCA, Jet Airways will not permit carriage of power banks from any manufacturer to be carried in guests’ check-in baggage on board all its flights. However, guests may carry these charging devices in their cabin bags," it said in the release.
The directive also includes e-cigarette devices.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had outlined a list of battery powered items and how they may be transported, creating some confusion with flyers.
For example items with dry cell batteries are allowed only in check-in baggage but not in the cabin, the opposite of lithium battery-powered gadgets.
