Air New Zealand has banned Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones on all flights, domestic and international.
Several Samsung Galaxy Note 7s lay on a counter in plastic bags after they were returned to a Best Buy in the US. Photo: AFP
The move follows a joint directive from the US Department of Transportation and the American Federal Aviation Administration to ban the phones.
Air New Zealand said the devices were banned and travellers should not even bring them to the airport.
Qantas, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines are also barring the device on all their flights.
Air New Zealand said the phones could not be accepted for carriage in person, carry-on or checked-in luggage and owners of the phones should contact Samsung for advice on how to return them.
Samsung permanently stopped production of the phone this week following reports of exploding batteries and the device catching fire, including one case in New Zealand.
Anyone with a Note 7 is being advised to immediately turn off their phone, remove the SD and SIM cards and return the device to the seller.
