Read this news before catching the flight! What do airline rules say about power banks?

Power Bank in Flights: Are preparing for air travel during summer holidays and together power bank Are you thinking of taking it? So before flying, it is very important to know the rules made by airlines and aviation authorities. Following several incidents of fire and smoke involving power banks in recent years, airlines around the world have tightened safety regulations.

It is prohibited to keep power bank in check-in bag.

The most important rule is that power banks with lithium-ion batteries cannot be kept in check-in luggage. Passengers will have to keep these in their carry-on bags or hand luggage only. The main reason behind this rule is security.

If a battery in the cargo hold malfunctions and causes a fire, the flight crew cannot take immediate action. At the same time, it is easy to keep an eye on the battery present in the cabin and deal with any emergency.

How much capacity power bank can I carry?

Generally, passengers can carry two power banks with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours (Wh) on board the aircraft without any special permission. A power bank with this capacity is enough to charge the smartphone several times.

If the battery capacity is more than 100Wh and up to 160Wh, airline approval may be required to carry it on the aircraft. These types of batteries are commonly used in professional video equipment or medical devices.

How to find Wh from mAh?

On many power banks the capacity is written in mAh (milliampere-hours). In such a situation, an easy calculation can be done to find out the watt-hour.

For example:

10,000mAh = 10Ah

10Ah × 3.7V = 37Wh

That means a 10,000mAh power bank is equivalent to approximately 37Wh, which is within the limit for air travel.

Why have airlines become strict?

In recent years, many accidents related to lithium batteries have come to light. In January 2025, an aircraft caught fire before takeoff at an airport in South Korea, after which all the passengers were evacuated safely. Such incidents have made airlines and aviation agencies more cautious about battery safety. Many flights have had to be diverted merely as a precaution because the potential danger associated with batteries cannot be ignored.

Why can lithium batteries be dangerous?

According to experts, lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy in a small size. If the battery gets stressed, overheated, or overcharged, the thermal runaway process may begin.

In this situation the battery starts heating rapidly and can produce poisonous gases and fire. Although the probability of such cases is very low, when they happen the damage can be serious.

Be sure to check the power bank before travelling.

Before going on a flight, check the status of your power bank. Do not use it if it shows any of these signs:

• battery drain
• overheating during charging
• Crack or damage in external part
• unusual smell

Experts also recommend avoiding buying power banks of cheap and unknown brands as they may lack safety standards.

Where to keep the power bank inside the plane?

Many airlines do not allow power banks to be kept in the overhead bin during flights. It should be kept in such a place where it can be taken out immediately when needed, such as the pocket in front of the seat, the bag kept under the seat. This allows the cabin crew to take immediate action in case of any problem.

Avoid charging during flight

Many airlines do not allow passengers to charge other devices from the power bank or charge the power bank from the aircraft’s power socket. Therefore, read the rules of your airline before travelling.

What to do if the battery falls under the seat?

If your power bank or any battery-powered device gets stuck between the seat and the wall, do not try to move the seat or move it back and forth to remove it.

Seat pressure can damage the battery, causing it to overheat and catch fire. In such a situation, immediately inform the cabin crew as they are trained to remove such devices safely.

Be sure to check airline rules before travelling.

The rules of each airline may be slightly different. Some companies also impose additional restrictions on the number or capacity of batteries. Therefore, the safest option is to read the official guidelines of your airline before the flight.

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