Caribbean Airlines (CAL) on Friday issued a ban on the in-flight use and battery charging of the recently re-called Samsung Galaxy Note 7, following a directive from the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority.
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In the meantime, the world’s largest smartphone maker is urging consumers worldwide to stop using Galaxy Note 7’s and exchange them as soon as possible.
Both Vodafone, Spark and 2 Degrees have all stopped sales of the phone and are offering various options for trading in replacing the units at stores.
Reportedly, Samsung used to get 70 percent of its batteries from its subsidiary while 30 percent was from ATL for Galaxy Note 7 devices.
FAA issued a warning regarding Galaxy Note 7 and even the smartphone has been banned as baggage on flights.
Meanwhile, Samsung Thailand has confirmed that anyone who pre-ordered the device can exchange their current model for a new Note 7.
The company has started recalling the smartphone from retailers. Analysts are expecting shipments of the Note 7 to total around 6 million in the third and fourth quarters, down from estimates of around 12-15 million.
The US was among the first countries to take action following the recall.
Since then, airlines or air safety agencies around the world have warned passengers against using them on flights.
Samsung, increasingly squeezed by Apple’s iPhone in the high-end segment and Chinese rivals in the low-end market, launched the Note 7 earlier than expected – ahead of the September 7 launch of the iPhone 7. Samsung also made a decision to suspend sales after the recall.
Caribbean Airlines pointed to safety as its number one priority regarding its passengers and crew.
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Some 2.5 million of the premium devices have been sold worldwide that need to be recalled, the firm has said, and some analysts say the recall could cost Samsung almost $5 billion in lost revenue this year.
