National carrier Vietnam Airlines on Tuesday announced the ban of smart baggage with integrated lithium batteries exceeding 300Wh from its flights.

Lithium-ion battery-powered baggage, which is called ‘smart baggage,’ includes devices with integrated lithium batteries, motors, power banks, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or Wi-Fi technology.

To guarantee flight safety and mitigate the risk of spontaneous explosions in accordance with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Vietnam Airlines provided passengers with new recommendations regarding the handling of smart baggage.

Baggage containing a removable lithium battery with a watt-hour rating of more than 300Wh will not be allowed as carry-ons on the aircraft.

If a passenger intends to transport this type of baggage as checked baggage, they must remove the battery before it can be accepted for carriage. The battery should then be carried separately in the cabin.

The airline does not permit the transportation of baggage containing removable lithium batteries with a capacity exceeding 300Wh in any form.

Vietnam Airlines allows baggage with built-in lithium batteries that cannot be removed and have a watt-hour rating of no more than 2.7Wh or a lithium metal content of no more than 0.3 grams as both carry-on and checked baggage.

In the event that a passenger checks in this type of baggage, the battery must be completely turned off. 

The airline will not accept baggage with non-removable lithium batteries if the watt-hour rating of the battery exceeds 2.7Wh or its lithium metal content surpasses 0.3 grams.

Baggage on which the battery specifications are unclear or those which lack authentic specification documents will not be allowed for transportation.

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