Qantas refuses lithium metal batteries on passenger aircraft

Qantas Freight announced this week that it will no longer accept lithium metal batteries for carriage on passenger aircraft.

In a statement head of global sales Nick McGlynn said effective immediately Qantas Freight and appointed handling agents will no longer accept UN3090 Packing Instruction 968-1A, 1B and Section 2 lithium metal batteries for carriage on any Qantas Group passenger aircraft.

Qantas Freight’s fleet of cargo freighters continues to carry shipments of UN3090 lithium metal batteries.

Any shipment that has already been booked and/or accepted will be honoured.

This change of carriage policy has been introduced in the lead up to lithium metal battery restrictions being applied by IATA in January 2015.

Photo by AndyArmstrong