Korean Air Bans Apple, Dell Computers on Board

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Sep 7, 2006 4:51 AM EDT

Article Source: times.hankooki.com

technology, computers, aviation, dell, qantas, air-safety, apple-computers, korean-air

Korean Air has forbidden the use of Dell and Apple laptop PCs during flight due to the risk of battery explosion.

The Korean national flag carrier said yesterday that the ban was put in place from Aug. 30, after the two U.S. computer manufacturers announced the recall of batteries used in some of their laptop models. The batteries, manufactured by Sony, were reported to have caught fire while in use on several occasions.

``Due to the risk of onboard fire, we are not allowing passengers to use certain brands of laptops on the plane. Safety always comes first for us,'' a Korean Air spokesperson said, adding they were unsure when the ban would be lifted.

The airline prohibited all models of Dell laptops and Apple's Powerbook and iBook series, while users can still carry them if they separate the batteries into checked baggage.

``We have put notices at check-in counters and boarding gates but we don't inspect all carry-on baggage,'' a gate attendant said.

Korean Air is the second airline company in the world to restrict the in-flight use of Dell and Apple laptops. Last month, Australia's Quantas announced a similar policy.

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{"commentId":280878,"authorDomain":"D3VUS"}

-=D3_V_US=-

HAHAHA!!! Thats gotta be the funniest thing I've read today (its still early though). I guess thats a small blow to Apple and Dell. I would like to hear their response.

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#1 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 9:01 AM EDT

{"commentId":281005,"authorDomain":"skulking"}

crazypip666

Dennis I wonder if you have heard anything about Sony laptops having similar problems? I know that the batteries that are being recalled are manufactured by Sony and I would assume that Sony uses their own batteries in their laptops yet I have heard nothing about Sony laptops exploding.

{"commentId":281005,"threadId":"41065","contentId":"353689","authorDomain":"skulking"}

#2 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 10:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":281104,"authorDomain":"denniswright"}

Dennis M Wright

I've not come across any reports of problems with Sony laptops blowing up. Mind you. I've not looked for this specifically.

I suspect that there are lot more Dells and Macs out there than VAIOs and given that even with Dell/Mac the number of instances is tiny any lack of reported blowups of Sonys mich just reflect the smaller population size.

In any event, I'd expect Sony will be overhauling their QA systems. I think I did hear (maybe on a tech podcast) about Sony making a new appointment at very senior level specifically to oversee battery quality control.

{"commentId":281104,"threadId":"41065","contentId":"353689","authorDomain":"denniswright"}

1 vote

#3 - Thu Sep 7, 2006 11:21 AM EDT

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	Korean Air bans Apple, Dell notebooks on board	Apple Insider	Wed Sep 6	0
	Panasonic Notebook Batteries Recalled	Associated Press	Tue Sep 5	1

DENNIS M WRIGHT

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Korean Air Bans Apple, Dell Computers on Board

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