Qantas flights checked for Dell batteries

The airline's captains are announcing prior to takeoff that passengers with laptops affected by the recall must remove their batteries if connecting their computer to the aircraft mains power, as the batteries should not be recharged.

However, passengers could still run laptops with recalled batteries on battery power as per normal.

Cabin crew on Qantas flights carry a list of the affected Dell laptops, which passengers can consult after they board.

Qantas issued an advisory for passengers on the issue yesterday.

The problem only applies to Dell branded batteries manufactured with Sony cells.

"We will closely monitor the situation as Dell's retro-fit program progresses but will only lift these restrictions when we are completely confident that the computers can be operated safely," said a Qantas spokesperson.

A spokesperson for Dell said the advisory meant Qantas had no restrictions on travelling with a Dell laptop.

"Qantas policy regarding the use of affected notebooks in-flight is consistent with the advice we are giving customers," he said.

"We are obviously working closely with Qantas and keeping them up to date with the recall and the progress replacement of the batteries.

"Dell believes the chance of a malfunction is remote."

During a brief stop in Sydney last week, company chairman Michael Dell said the PC giant was "still investigating" reported incidents of Dell laptop batteries exploding.