Tejal Somvanshi
Major airlines are introducing stricter rules for power banks following several concerning safety incidents, including a fire that led to an emergency evacuation on an Air Busan plane earlier this year.
Eva Air and China Airlines will implement new regulations starting March 1, 2025, prohibiting passengers from using or charging power banks during flights. This follows similar measures already adopted by South Korean carriers including Korean Air and Asiana.
“Effective March 1, 2025, to ensure flight safety, the use and charging of power banks and spare lithium batteries will be prohibited throughout the flight,” Eva Air stated in an official announcement.
The bans come after incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have been reported on multiple flights. These incidents occur when batteries overheat and potentially catch fire, posing serious risks in the confined space of an aircraft cabin.
New Rules and Storage Requirements
While power banks remain allowed in carry-on luggage, the new regulations include specific requirements for how they must be stored:
South Korean airlines will require passengers to keep power banks in their seat pockets rather than overhead bins. “As the public is very anxious about bringing power banks on board, we plan to further strengthen passenger guidance and management procedures,” explained South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
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For South Korean airlines, passengers will need to cover power bank terminals with insulating tape or keep them in protective pouches. “Clear plastic bags will be available at the check-in counter and in the cabin to help prevent short circuits,” the ministry added.
Australian carriers already enforce strict rules. Qantas states: “Baggage fitted with non-removable lithium batteries or power banks are forbidden. If in checked baggage, the lithium battery or lithium power bank must be removed from the bag. The removed lithium battery or power bank must be in carry-on baggage only.”
Expert Warnings
Professor Lo Kok-keung, a retired engineering expert, explained the danger: “If it creates a short circuit, it can create a high temperature and burn the internal materials and create a fire which can burn clothing in the baggage.”
The risks aren’t theoretical. In 2023, a taxiing plane in Taiwan was forced to return when a USB power bank caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke. That same year, two passengers were injured on a Scoot flight from Singapore to Taipei after a power bank exploded.
Airlines now recommend passengers fully charge their devices before boarding and use the aircraft’s built-in AC or USB power outlets when available, rather than relying on portable chargers.
While UK airlines haven’t yet adopted similar bans, current regulations still prohibit power banks in checked luggage due to fire risks. Ryanair’s policy states: “Customers can carry a maximum of two spare lithium-ion batteries in carry-on baggage and these must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.”
The aviation industry continues to monitor safety concerns about lithium batteries across airlines worldwide.
