Korean Air has become the latest airline to effectively ground notebooks from Apple and Dell. The carrier has banned travellers from bringing those companies' portable computers into aircraft cabins unless the laptops' batteries have been removed first.

The ban applies to all Apple iBook and PowerBook notebooks and all Dell portables, and a terse statement from the airline indicated it will not even permit models unaffected by the two manufacturers' product recalls to be brought on board with the battery in place.

Korean Air passengers can check their batteries in and retrieve them at their destination, we understand, but we're not sure how that squares with broader air transport regulations that lithium-based batteries should not be placed in check-in luggage but must be included in carry-on baggage.

Last month, Australian airline Qantas told travellers it would not allow Dell or Apple notebooks to be used on board its aircraft with the batteries in place. Like Korean Air, Qantas will permit battery-less laptops to be used with on-board power feeds. ®