International Civil Aviation 
Organization (ICAO) president provisionally approves banning of Lithium Ion batteries as cargo on passenger flights.
The debate over usage of lithium ion batteries on passenger flights has been going on for many years, but the recent aircraft fires due to lithium ion batteries has pushed the ban for cargo into immediate effect. These are the same batteries we have in our laptops and cell phones that we can still carry on these flights, but many airlines started banning these for cargo on passenger flights in 2007.
Pending the outcomes of investigations now being carried out in the U.S. and Japan, the president of the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization has provisionally approved an interim amendment that will prohibit the carriage of lithium ion aircraft batteries as cargo on passenger airplanes.
Final approval of the amendment from the ICAO council is expected when it returns to session later this month.
Due to this ban only airlines who have freighter service can have the option of carrying these batteries as cargo, but many airlines will still choose not to handle at all. Please be sure to check with your logistics company before planning on sending any batteries via air freight cargo. Ocean freight is still an option for the time being.
photo credit: SoulRider.222 via photopin cc
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