EVA Air and UNI Air Mandate Carry-On for Bluetooth Headphones Due to Fire Safety

Airlines cite lithium battery risks in charging cases, requiring portable electronics to be kept with passengers.

In a move prioritizing fire safety, EVA Air has implemented a new policy prohibiting passengers from placing Bluetooth headphones in checked baggage. This directive, confirmed by a company spokesperson, extends to its sister airline, UNI Air, which announced similar regulations on October 23rd.

The core of the concern lies in the lithium batteries powering Bluetooth headsets. Unlike wired earphones that draw power from the connected device, Bluetooth headphones contain their own power source. This design, coupled with charging cases that automatically recharge the headphones upon storage, presents a fire risk if placed in the cargo hold.

Airlines are increasingly treating portable electronic devices (PEDs) with lithium batteries, including Bluetooth headphone cases, under the same stringent rules as power banks. These devices must always be carried in the cabin as carry-on baggage. If passengers choose to store such devices in checked luggage, they must be completely powered off. However, the automatic charging function of many Bluetooth headphone cases prevents them from meeting this "powered-off" requirement.

Tigerair has also adopted a similar stance, banning Bluetooth headphones and other PEDs with built-in lithium batteries, such as handheld fans, from checked luggage for air traffic safety. China Airlines, while not explicitly banning them, recommends that passengers carry their headphones and cases in their carry-on baggage, acknowledging that the auto-charging feature of headphone cases may not meet the requirements for checked items.

Starlux Airlines, while not having a specific protocol for Bluetooth headphones, emphasizes that all products containing lithium batteries must adhere to United Nations safety standards.