Turkish Airlines has announced a new ban on the transport of “smart” suitcases in checked baggage, citing safety concerns over lithium batteries and electronic components.
According to the airline, the restriction applies to luggage with the following features:
Built-in lithium batteries for charging electronic devices
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GPS tracking systems
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity
Weight measurement functions
Such luggage will only be accepted as checked baggage if the passenger removes the battery, disconnects all electronic contacts, and stores the battery in their carry-on, preferably in its original packaging.
Turkish Airlines joins other carriers like Emirates and flydubai, which also prohibit smart luggage unless the batteries can be removed.
Separately, Turkish aviation authorities recently imposed $70 fines on passengers who stood up during taxiing or before the seatbelt sign was turned off. This marks the first enforcement of new aviation rules introduced in May, which classify premature standing during taxiing as an administrative violation. The regulation applies to all domestic and international flights departing from Turkish airports.
