Which Airlines Have Banned Power Banks From Flights?

Emirates is the latest airline to place a ban on the use of portable power banks during flights.

This year, we’ve seen an increasing number of airlines placing restrictions or bans on power banks (often referred to as portable battery packs). Earlier this week, Emirates became the latest airline to put a ban on them during flights.

This movement largely stems from an incident involving an Air Busan flight this past January. Flight BX391 caught fire on the ground before takeoff, injuring 27 and leading the airline to write off the Airbus A321. The investigation’s preliminary findings into this incident suggested that a power bank placed in an overhead bin had caught fire. Following these findings, many airlines in Asia began rethinking their rules regarding the batteries.

Airlines have been well aware of the risks of lithium-ion batteries (and portable power banks). This is why we’re told to never pack loose lithium-ion batteries, including power banks, in our checked bags. Despite this, incidents involving these batteries have been on the rise, and it was only a matter of time until the rules got stricter.

Shawn Gallagher

Rules still vary among airlines that have placed restrictions. Most of them have placed a full ban, where passengers are prohibited from using them and charging them during flights. Some others still allow the use, but have implimented some rules so that a potential fire can be handled quickly in such a case.

Note that in any case, the typical limit in capacity for these power banks is 100Wh. Those with a capacity of over 100Wh and under 160Wh may be allowed with prior airline approval, and anything above 160Wh would not be allowed.

Let’s go over the rules by country.

Hong Kong SAR: Full Ban

  • Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines, and others

Hong Kong law prohibits passengers from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins). This ban also includes charter airlines based in Hong Kong.

Taiwan: Full Ban

  • China Airlines, Eva Air, Starlux Airlines, Tigerair, and others

Similar to airlines in Hong Kong, airlines in Taiwan also prohibit passengers from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins).

South Korea: Full Ban

  • Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Air Busan, and all other airlines in South Korea

South Korean law prohibits passengers from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins). They were among the first to implement these rule changes amid the Air Busan incident.

Singapore: Full Ban

  • Singapore Airlines, Scoot

Passengers on Singapore Airlines and its LCC subsidiary, Scoot, are prohibited from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins).

Thailand: Full Ban

  • Thai Airways

Passengers on Thai Airways are prohibited from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins).

Thai Airways

Malaysia: Full Ban

  • Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia, and others based in Malaysia

Passengers on Singapore Airlines, Air Asia, and other airlines based in Malaysia are prohibited from using and charging power banks during flights. Additionally, they must be placed in sight of the passenger (i.e. not in overhead bins).

United Arab Emirates: Full Ban

  • Etihad, FlyDubai
  • Emirates, starting October 1

Emirates is the latest airline to place a ban on the use of power banks during flights, and they must be placed somewhere in sight (i.e. not in overhead bins). Additionally, Etihad and FlyDubai, airlines also based in the UAE, already have similar bans on power banks.

Mainland China: Varying Restrictions

Chinese policy is that passengers aren’t allowed to carry power banks without 3C certification. Regardless, the rules on flights tend to vary based on the airline:

  • Air China: Power banks up to 100Wh are allowed, as long as they have 3C certification
  • China Eastern, China Southern, Xiamen, Hainan, and Sichuan Airlines: Power banks up to 100Wh with 3C certification are allowed to be brought onboard, but may not be used during flights.

Japan: Some Restrictions

  • All Japanese Airlines

Japan doesn’t have a full ban on power banks, but passengers must keep them in sight during the flight. The power banks themselves also must be under 100Wh. As long as this is the case, passengers are free to use them while in the air.

United States: Restrictions on Southwest

  • Southwest Airlines

Southwest has placed similar restrictions to Japanese airlines, and is the only airline in the US so far to place any form of restriction on power banks. Passengers are still allowed to use them during flights, but must keep them in sight (i.e. not in overhead bins).

Bottom Line

As of today, there’s no global standard for power banks. However, it’s no secret that lithium-ion battery related incidents, including these portable battery packs, are on the rise. According to FAA data, there were 89 incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in 2024, compared to 47 back in 2017.

It’s going to be confusing as more and more airlines begin enforcing different rules. Moving forward, I think it’s going to be important to remember to double check rules on electronics when flying an airline you aren’t familiar with, and take advantage of USB ports and universal outlets at airports and on the aircraft.

Featured image by Yonhap.

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