Emirates has become the latest airline to ban the use of power banks on its flights, with new rules coming into force on 1 October 2025.
From that date, travellers will not be allowed to use a power bank to charge any device while onboard, or charge the power bank itself using the aircraft’s power supply. Customers can carry one power bank each, and it must be under 100Wh.
The airline has long banned power banks in checked luggage, but under the new regulations they will also not be permitted in the overhead stowage bins, and must be stored either in the seat pocket or under the chair in front of you.
Emirates has made the change due to the increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the industry. While phones and other lithium battery-powered devices typically have an internal system to prevent overcharging, which can cause damage and lead to fires or explosions, many power banks lack this safety measure.
Most airlines follow the International Air Transport Association’s guidelines, which state that power banks must be under 100Wh (27,027 mAh), and are only permitted in carry-on luggage.
Other major airlines have added new regulations after incidents, including Singapore Airlines, which banned the use of power banks onboard in April; Southwest Airlines, which introduced a rule around keeping power banks in use in plain sight in late May; and Lufthansa, which also banned the use of power banks onboard, and introduced rules that require them to be carried in a separate plastic carrier, in May.
Rules for individual airlines can be found on their respective websites, and should be checked just prior to travel as these rules may change.
More information: emirates.com
