The airline believes that self-heating meals are a significant safety risk.

Malaysia Airlines has banned self-heating meals and ready-to-eat meals onboard all flights. With immediate effect, the ban has been implemented as self-heating meal packs contain dangerous chemicals that represent a safety risk.

Malaysia Airlines has announced a ban on all self-heating meals, which it says pose a safety hazard. The ban will come into effect immediately and apply to both passengers and crew on all Malaysia Airlines flights. This includes meals stored in cabin baggage and in the hold.

The airline claims that self-heating meals contain various dangerous chemicals, including magnesium and calcium oxide, capable of reaching dangerously high temperatures when activated.

"With immediate effect, any form of Self Heating Meals or Ready to Eat Meals are prohibited on all Malaysia Airlines’ flights and are not allowed in either checked or cabin baggage by passengers or crew due to safety concerns."

The carrier clarified that "Self Heating Meals or Ready to Eat Meals include heat packs or self-heating packs such as quick and easy hot pot, rice and drinks."

Meals that don't come with self-heating packs, such as instant noodles, are not believed to fall under this ban. Simple Flying has reached out to Malaysia Airlines for clarification and will update this article accordingly.

Self-heating meals are meals equipped with self-heating packs that essentially allow them to be cooked without an external heat source. Self-heating packs use chemicals that activate upon contact with water to catalyze an exothermic reaction.

"These packs contain dangerous substances such as magnesium powder, iron powder, self-burning solid carbon or corrosive calcium oxide that release flammable gas on contact with water."

It is surprising that these meals have been allowed onboard flights for such a long time after an FAA report in 2006 warned of the hazards of self-heating chemicals.

According to the FAA report, flameless self-heating meals can pose a significant onboard risk, particularly after "the accidental activation of them in a confined area aboard an aircraft, such as in overhead storage bins or a cargo compartment."

"It is evident from the tests performed that the release of hydrogen gas from these flameless ration heaters is of a sufficient quantity to pose a potential hazard onboard a passenger aircraft."

This week, Malaysia Airlines announced an agreement with Air Lease Corp (ALC) for 25 Boeing 737 MAX 8s under a long-term leasing contract. Deliveries of these aircraft will begin in 2023 through to 2026.

Malaysia Airlines doesn't operate a single MAX despite placing an order with Boeing for 25 MAXs in 2016. In May 2021, the airline agreed to defer deliveries of the jet until 2024. Its order is still listed on the Boeing website, although Chief Executive Izham Ismail hinted that the new leasing agreement might be part of a swap option.

What do you think of the ban on self-heating meals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Journalist - With 10 years of experience as a travel writer and aviation analyst, Luke has worked with industry-leaders including Skyscanner, KLM and HotelsCombined throughout his career. As a passionate traveler based across the Middle East and East Asia, Luke offers strong insights into the travel and aviation industry.