Has ICAO banned the wrong batteries?

Against the wishes of the International Air Transport Association, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed yesterday to temporarily ban the shipment of lithium-ion batteries on passenger aircraft, which will go into effect on April 1 of this year. According to ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, the ban will only be in place until ICAO develops a new lithium battery packaging performance standard, expected by 2018. Our sister publication, Cargo Facts, has more details on the effects of the new ban.