Samsung sets up Note7 exchanges at major US airports

Samsung Electronics Co. is letting travellers exchange their Note 7 smartphones at special booths set up at America’s busiest airports. This is part of Samsung’s worldwide effort to recall millions of Galaxy Note7 phones, which are prone to catching fire and exploding. Customers can exchange the phones or get a full refund, a company representative said in a statement. Samsung didn’t specify which US airports or how many would be part of the exchange programme. Regulators have banned the model from carry-on and checked baggage on all US flights and last week said passengers who try to carry Note 7 smartphones onto planes will have them confiscated and may face fines. Samsung is urging customers to get the refunds or exchange the phones before arriving at the airport. Samsung cut its third-quarter operating profit by $2.3 billion last week after deciding to permanently end production of the troubled smartphone.