BANGKOK: For passengers’ convenience, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has evaluated the hazard and risk of lithium battery and sees it proper to make amendments to the regulation regarding the transport by air of lithium battery or lithium battery powered portable electronic devices. Consequently, passengers are asked for cooperation in checking if their 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops are the older generation products supplied by Apple Inc. between September 2015 and February 2017, which are under the battery recall program by the manufacturer, before bringing the devices on board all flights or in checked baggage.
Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, THAI Vice President, Aviation Safety, Security and Standards, said that, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand announcement for carriage guidance of 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops on board aircraft, THAI is obliged to ask passengers to check whether the 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops in their possessions are the ones distributed by Apple Inc. between September 2015 and February 2017, before bringing them onto THAI aircraft in carry-on bags or in checked baggage. The aforementioned devices were recalled by Apple Inc. as batteries in some of them may overheat and pose a fire safety risk unless they are fixed or batteries are replaced as advised by the manufacturer. Passengers can check the product serial numbers of the products in question at https://support.apple.com/15-inch-macbook-pro-battery-recall. At the present time, THAI does not have additional screening measures for the affected MacBook Pro laptops in question.
However, should any passengers have the utmost need to bring the aforementioned models of MacBook Pro laptops onto THAI aircraft, they are required only to be brought on board in carry-on baggage, and THAI asks their owners for cooperation in refraining from using or charging the laptops during flight.
In addition, since some countries* may have further restrictions concerning bringing the devices in question on board aircraft, THAI advises that passengers check for such restrictions beforehand. THAI assumes no responsibility for any consequences which might occur to your imminent air travel should the officers at the departing airport prohibit you from bringing the devices in question on board.
To avoid any dangerous situations or fire risks, passengers are advised to check if their electronic devices are broken or emit heat or smoke. Should the electronic devices fall between aircraft seats, passengers are reminded to contact flight attendants for assistance. BIZ TODAY MONITOR
