News / Banning lithium batteries from aircraft bellies won't stop fake or smuggled shipments – IATA

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IATA has defended its controversial decision to vote against a ban on rechargeable battery shipments on passenger aircraft.

At the end of October, ICAO’s dangerous goods panel, comprising countries, manufacturers and IATA, voted 11-7 against a ban.

The US has been vociferous about the risks of shipping the batteries on passenger aircraft after FAA tests. The aviation authority said “the risk is immediate and urgent”, while Boeing and Airbus have called the risk “unacceptable”.

Predominantly European countries and IATA disagreed, and the results ...