Qantas and Virgin Australia have sent smart suitcases packing, banning them from the cargo hold and cabin unless their lithium-ion batteries can be removed.
The moves follow announcements from three U.S. airlines "” American Airlines, Delta and Alaska "” that a ban on the suitcases would take effect on January 15, with United and Southwest reportedly likely to follow suit.
Virgin Australia announced that from January 15, the airline would not carry any smart bags with built-in batteries that cannot be removed.
It would be permissible to take a battery removed from a smart suitcase on board in carry-on luggage, the airline said.
Qantas has not allowed smart suitcases with batteries in the cargo hold for some time, in line with its general policy on lithium batteries and dangerous goods…
