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More airlines ban Note7 on flights
NEW DELHI/ SEOUL/ MELBOURNE: Tata-Singapore Airlines promoted Vistara on Monday banned Samsung Galaxy Note7 on its flights. “Carriage of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones
NEW DELHI/ SEOUL/ MELBOURNE: Tata-Singapore Airlines promoted Vistara on Monday banned Samsung Galaxy Note7 on its flights. “Carriage of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones is prohibited on Vistara flights, both in hand luggage and check-in luggage,” the airline said in a tweet.
This follows a similar move by Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia on Sunday. “AirAsia will not allow Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones on-board any of its flights due to safety concerns. Guests are not permitted to carry the Galaxy Note 7, including recalled and replacement devices, on their person, in cabin bags, in check-in baggage or as cargo. Any guests found with the device will be denied boarding.”
On Monday, Japan became the latest to ban all Note7 smartphones on flights. However, in a relief to some passengers, Samsung said it will offer alternative phones to affected users flying out of the country from Seoul Incheon International Airport.
At least eight global airlines, including AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, China Airlines and EVA Air, have prohibited Note7 owners from bringing the smartphone on their flights. The announcements followed an emergency order by the US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration last week preventing Note7 owners from bringing their phones on planes or in luggage. US officials said flyers who flout those rules could face fines or criminal prosecution.
According to Indian aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), passengers can still carry their Note7 devices on flights in their hand baggage in the switch-off mode.
Samsung , the world’s largest maker of smartphones, has halted production of its latest mobile device and recalled all around 25 million Note7 phones and replacements because of reports of exploding batteries and resultant fires. The crisis is expected to cost the South Korean company $17 billion.
Meanwhile, playing down the effects on South Korea’s economy, deputy finance minister Lee Chan-woo on Monday said the country’s economic growth is still expected to meet the government’s expectations this year, although recent strikes at Hyundai Motor and the discontinuation of Samsung Note7 sales pose risks. “Our economy is not just Samsung and Hyundai. The losses can be made up through consumption and investment.”
