Apple Macbook Pro Off Limits to Some US Airline Flights

In a previous announcement, Apple banned selected Macbook Pro models from flights. It is in the name of safety, as stated by The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Apple announced the prohibition and reminded that batteries used in some models are dangerous as they could overheat and present a safety risk.

Apple recalls the effects of the 15-inch Macbook Pro models sold between September 2015 and February 2017.

In a news report, an airline regulator sent an email. The email indicates that the recalled batteries used in some Apple MacBook Pro laptops were under FAA’s scrutiny.

He also added, “In early July, we alerted airlines about the recall, and we informed the public.”

At the time of Apple’s revelation, the Cupertino company has confirmed that users could change their battery for free if they had an affected model.

However, this might come as a disturbance to travelers who haven’t been able to get a free battery replacement.

Moreover, the affected models that use new batteries are working.

The FAA’s decision came two weeks after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency placed a warning about the affected laptops.

Earlier this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued a warning about the MacBook Pro models. It advises airlines in the region to follow the rules from 2017. It requires devices with lithium-ion batteries to be off and unused during flights.

Other Airlines Prohibiting Macbook Pro

In a news report, four other airlines were added on the list. This is to let them know to stop using the affected Macbook Pro models with cargo services.

Total Cargo Expertise manages the airline. It includes TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat.

A TCE operations coordinator wrote to employees and said, “please note that the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro laptop, sold between mid-2015 to February-2017, is prohibited onboard any of our mandate carriers.”

Meanwhile, TUI Group Airlines said in a statement that the airport staff and flight attendants would start making announcements about these MacBook Pros. It will be at the gate and before take-off.

In addition, laptops are now with new batteries, TIU stated.

The company’s website posted a notice that will ban further recalled computers on board. This is for both cargo and passenger areas of its planes.

It is still indistinct what efforts, if any, will be made at US airports.

Apple’s AirPods under Trump’s China Tariff

Elsewhere, Apple’s AirPods, Apple Watch, and HomePod, which have helped the company to offset declining the iPhone sales this year, are not included in a temporary reprieve on tariffs by the Trump administration.

On September 1, the said products will also face a 10 percent tax charge.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the administration said some major items. These include laptops and cellphones; also, Apple’s MacBooks and iPhones will not face tariffs until 15 December.

The postponement is affecting some of Apple’s biggest-selling products. These were the ones that helped the shares increase by about 4 percent in the early afternoon trading.

Apple did not provide comments immediately.

In September, items that will face tariffs include consumer electronics. These are smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart speakers, and Bluetooth headphones.

Last year, these were removed from the tariff list after the manufacturers sent comment letters to the government.