Airlines now ban ‘power bank’ batteries being used in flight

Smartphones, tablets, eBook readers, and noise-cancelling headphones have become essential components of the modern travel kit, and so this has led to the rise of ‘power bank’ battery packs as a must-have accessory to keep all that tech juiced up when you’re on the go.

However, airlines have become increasingly cautious of power bank, specifically the lithium-ion cells within them, due to the risk posed if they overheat or short-circuit.

These battery packs were banned from checked luggage in 2016, following new rules set down by international aviation safety regulators, and can now travel only in your carry-on cabin bags.

In 2025, airlines are introducing even tougher rules surrounding power banks.

Battery packs: new rules from the 1st of March

Taiwan’s Eva Air has announced that from the 1st of March 2025, “to ensure flight safety, the use and charging of power banks and spare lithium batteries will be prohibited throughout the flight.”

While they’ll still be permitted along with other carry-on items, you won’t be allowed to connect the power bank to your phone or tablet during the flight.

Nor can you plug that battery pack into your seat’s USB socket to charge it up ahead of a busy day after you land.

“If your personal electronic devices need to be charged,” Eva Air suggests to passengers, “you may fully charge them before boarding” or connect them to the seat’s AC or USB power outlets.

Power banks “must be carried in your carry-on baggage and properly stored to prevent compression or damage.”

Power banks banned from overhead luggage bins

The same rules will apply on South Korean airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana, from 1 March 2025, along with an additional restriction: lithium-ion power banks and even e-cigarettes won’t be allowed in overhead luggage bins.

Instead, they’ll need to remain with the passenger at their seat.

“As the public is very anxious about bringing power banks on board, we plan to further strengthen passenger guidance and management procedures for power banks and e-cigarettes through this measure,” says the country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Travellers will have to place power banks and e-cigarettes in their seat pocket.

Additionally, “to avoid metal contact, the terminals of the power bank must be covered with insulating tape or kept in a protective pouch or plastic bag.”

“Clear plastic bags will be available at the check-in counter and in the cabin to help prevent short circuits, so passengers can use them as needed.”

Story sourced from here

Tough new airline rules ban use of power banks in flight - Executive Traveller