Air Astana tightens safety rules, restricts battery transport

Air Astana has introduced new limitations on lithium battery transportation, making it more difficult to travel with external batteries and electronic smoking devices on its flights. All batteries with a rating exceeding 160 watt-hours (Wh) are banned from transport.

«In accordance with effective policy and rules, spare batteries, including external batteries (power banks), and electronic smoking devices are allowed for transportation only in carry-on baggage. If the carry-on baggage should be transported in the cargo compartment, the passenger should take out all spare batteries beforehand,» the company stated on Telegram.

Air Astana emphasized that each passenger is allowed to carry up to two such devices; however, the capacity of each must not exceed 100 Wh.

«The battery capacity must not exceed 100 Wh. Batteries with a rating ranging from 100 Wh to 160 Wh are allowed for transportation only with prior approval from the company, but no more than two units per passenger. The transport of batteries exceeding 160 Wh in rating is prohibited,» the statement read.

The airline has also emphasized that it will be verifying the rating of every battery and will prohibit them from being transported if no relevant certificate or marking is present. However, no details have been disclosed on how or where passengers’ external batteries will be examined.

«Lithium batteries, external batteries and electronic smoking devices may only be transported in hand luggage placed in the overhead compartment. Charging aforementioned devices and batteries onboard is strictly prohibited,» the statement read.

Further details and rules are available on the airline’s official website.