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Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has banned its pilots and cabin crew from carrying power banks on board flights while on duty amid safety concerns, the South China Morning Post has learned, in a move aircrew decried as causing them significant inconvenience and a "double standard" compared with restrictions for passengers. In a notice to cabin crew last Thursday, a copy of which was seen by the South China Morning Post, the carrier said that "operating crew are prohibited from carrying power banks with them on duty", effective on Monday. The carrier added that the move was "to enhance safety" and applied to both flight crew and cabin crew. "We don't understand why there is a double standard on us when passengers are allowed to bring their power banks on board but the aircrew are forbidden from doing so," Brenda Cheng, vice-chairwoman of the carrier's Flight Attendants Union, said on Monday. "We are now in discussion with the company and hope that it can clarify this policy. The airline's notice to crew also announced the implementation of the Civil Aviation Department's new rule, which also came into effect on Monday, that passengers could not use power banks, or recharge them, or store them in overhead compartments during flights. Under the new regulations, passengers would have to keep power banks on them, or place them in the seat pocket in front of them, or in their hand luggage under the seat. Fliers would be allowed to charge electronic devices using USB ports built into seats, where available.<br/>

Qantas and Airbus have pledged to invest $15 million in a climate-focused venture capital fund. In a joint statement, the two businesses said Climate Tech Partners (CTP) would work with corporate backers to develop solutions targeted at specific industry needs. The money will form a new vehicle alongside CTP’s main fund and will prioritise the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), feedstock development, and other related technologies. The partnership marks the latest step in Qantas and Airbus’ wider US$200m joint initiative launched in 2022, aimed at fast-tracking SAF production. The companies said their support for early-stage innovation is intended to address the current gap between promising climate technologies and large-scale commercial rollout in Australia. Fiona Messent, the Qantas Group’s chief sustainability officer, said SAF remains the airline’s most viable near-term decarbonisation option. “As well as funding, this partnership will help provide a vote of confidence in new technologies so they can be developed, scaled and integrated in the SAF supply chain,” she said. “For Australia, an onshore SAF industry will mean improved national fuel security, more jobs and economic benefit.”<br/>