It said animal-like robots were designed to resemble or imitate an animal in appearance, movement, or behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll other robots, including toys, must be able to fit within a carry-on size bag and comply with existing battery restrictions,\u201d Southwest said.<\/p>\n
The ban emerged soon after humanoid robot Stewie travelled on a flight from Las Vegas to Dallas on May 7.<\/p>\n
CBS News said Stewie\u2019s human bought the robot its own seat, using a type of ticket often purchased for fragile items such as wedding dresses or equipment.<\/p>\n
To meet airline and US aviation authority rules at the time, Stewie was reportedly fitted with a smaller battery that could pass through security.<\/p>\n
Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw said any non-standard items brought into the cabin were assessed on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n
He said that was done to ensure items met all safety and operational requirements, including rules around batteries and electronic devices. <\/p>\n
\u201cCustomers can purchase an extra seat for some items, such as large musical instruments, provided they meet our requirements,\u201d McGraw told the Herald.<\/p>\n
The airline said apart from the cost of buying a seat for the object a person wanted to travel with, no additional fees were charged. <\/p>\n
Board of Airline Representatives (Barnz) executive director Cath O\u2019Brien said airlines were increasingly taking greater care with lithium batteries and storage.<\/p>\n
Last year, airport security staff confiscated nearly 500 batteries a day<\/a> at Auckland Airport alone. <\/p>\n In New Zealand, hearing aids, lithium batteries, nickel-metal hydride and dry cell batteries, power banks, vapes and AirPods must go in carry-on luggage and not be checked in.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally speaking, these lithium batteries or power banks increasingly have to be carried in-cabin, not plugged in, not used, in the seat pocket in front of you.\u201d<\/p>\n That was because of increased concerns about combustion, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pilot in command and indeed the airline have to make the rules for the airline itself,\u201d she told the Herald.<\/p>\n \u201cBut every airline has to be compliant with the civil aviation authority rules in the country they\u2019re operating in or between.\u201d<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien urged travellers to follow the advice of their airline and take care with batteries of any type.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some disability or health devices that are very important but, you know, do you really need your hair straightener?\u201d<\/p>\n Counterpoint Research said the number of installed humanoid robots worldwide would probably increase from 16,000 last year to 100,000 units by next year.<\/p>\n Last week, a dancing robot\u2019s emulation of Michael Jackson\u2019s Billie Jean<\/a> ended when the machine tumbled mid-routine and had to be dragged offstage at an event in China.<\/p>\n China accounted for more than four out of five humanoid robot installations globally last year, the South China Morning Post reported.<\/p>\n