Air NZ joins other airlines in Samsung Galaxy Note 7 ban

Air New Zealand [NZX: AIR] has joined Qantas, JetStar and other airlines in putting restrictions on Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 — subject to a recall over a battery fire issue.

A spokeswoman tells NBR, "On recommendation from the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] all Air New Zealand customers carrying Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices must ensure that they are carried in the cabin only and not turned on or charged while onboard any Air New Zealand service. These devices must not be carried in checked-in baggage."

Samsung is recalling 2.5 million Note 7 phones worldwide, including more than 50,000 in Australasia, after 31 reports (as of September 1) of battery fires. The $1599 handset was launched on August 19. See recall details here.

Wider concerns
Lithium ion batteries have been growing in energy density as the makers of everything from smartphones to laptops to electric cars try to meet consumer demand for longer battery life.

Ironically, airlines themselves have been caught up in the concerns over possible overheating and fires. In 2013, the FAA to ground the entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet in 2013. Boeing addressed the issue by adding a steel containment box around the batteries.

Tune into NBR Radio’s Sunday Business with Andrew Patterson on Sunday morning, for analysis and feature-length interviews.

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Air NZ joins other airlines in Samsung Galaxy Note 7 ban

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Samsung recalls 2.5m Note 7 phones after battery fires

Samsung recalls 2.5m Note 7 phones after battery fires