SAA bans ‘exploding’ Samsung Note 7 phone
National carrier is the latest in a list of international airlines US bans phone on all flights
CRISIS hit South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung has been dealt another blow with SAA yesterday being the latest airliner to ban its Galaxy Note 7 cellphone from its flights.
The move comes on the heels of similar ban orders by other airlines. On Friday the US Department of Transportation issued an emergency order banning the cellphone from flights coming in and out of the US. Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin have also banned the device.
Tlali Tlali, SAA spokesman, said the decision was made after the airline considered the safety concerns associated with the device.
“The recall of the phone by the manufacturer based on safety considerations and the announcement made by regulatory authorities in some key markets we fly to have left us with no option but to comply,” Tlali said. Ill-fated The ill-fated smartphone, which initially received warm welcome by pundits upon its launch on August 19, lasted only two months in the market.
Initial reports of the device exploding began to emerge in late August, with more reports being reported across the globe.
Early this month in the US, a Southwest Airlines flight had to be evacuated before take-off after a Galaxy Note 7 reportedly went up in smoke.
The Galaxy Note 7 fiasco has seen the company’s share plunge by 8 percent with $17 billion of its market value being wiped off. The company then issued a worldwide recall in September before announcing its decision to halt the production of the cellphone last week.
Tlali said customers who failed to heed the airline’s ban of the device would be liable to fines and see their devices confiscated. “Non-compliance with the prohibition may lead to confiscation of the devices and/or fines being imposed on the passengers concerned.”
According to market research firm IDC, Samsung is the biggest seller of smart- phone’s in the world, commanding 23 percent market share with Apple claiming second spot with 12 percent. Significant failure Steven Ambrose, an executive at Strategy Worx, said there was significant failure on Samsung’s part to ensure proper quality and safety assurance before rolling out the Galaxy Note 7.
However, he SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 7 smartphones have been declared “forbidden hazardous material” and banned from all flights to, from or within the US.
Yesterday it became a federal offence to carry the device aboard an aircraft, whether as hand luggage or checked-in baggage.
“If passengers attempt to travel by air with their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, they will be denied boarding,” the US Department of Transportation said.
“Passengers who attempt to evade the ban by packing their phone in checked luggage are increasing the risk of a catastrophic incident.”
About 2.5 million of the new smartphones have been recalled following cases of exploding batteries.
Replacement units have also caught fire.
Samsung has withdrawn the line, and buyers are being offered a full refund.
British Airways (BA) issued a statement on its website, saying: “Customers who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 device MAY NOT transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the US.”
BA and other airlines are asking US-bound passengers at check-in if they have the phone. – The Independent short- to medium-term brand reputation hit on the company.
“They are too big a company and too big a brand to be drowned out by this,” Ambrose said.