Rahul Somvanshi
Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget carrier Scoot will prohibit passengers from using or charging power banks on flights beginning April 1, 2025. The airlines announced this safety measure on March 12 through their official Facebook pages.
New Restrictions Target Battery Fire Risks
Under the new policy, passengers cannot:
- Use power banks to charge personal devices during flights
- Charge portable power banks via onboard USB ports
SIA cited compliance with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations as the basis for this decision, noting that power banks are classified as lithium batteries and pose potential fire hazards.
“The SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries,” said SIA in their announcement.
Current Regulations Remain In Place
Existing rules will continue to apply:
- Power banks must be carried in cabin baggage only
- They remain prohibited in checked luggage
- Batteries up to 100Wh are permitted without special approval
- Batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline authorization
Rising Incidents Prompt Safety Measures
This policy change follows several concerning incidents:
- In 2023, two passengers aboard a Scoot flight at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport were injured after a power bank overheated and caught fire before takeoff
- In January 2025, an Air Busan plane caught fire while preparing for departure at Gimhae International Airport in South Korea, reportedly caused by a power bank
- In March 2025, a video from a Batik Air flight showed the cabin filled with smoke from a burning power bank in an overhead compartment
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, lithium battery incidents on planes have increased significantly – with three incidents of overheating batteries recorded every two weeks in 2024, compared to less than one incident per week in 2016.
Global Trend Toward Stricter Battery Rules
Singapore Airlines joins other carriers implementing similar restrictions:
- South Korean airlines now require passengers to keep portable chargers within arm’s reach and out of overhead bins
- Taiwanese carriers EVA Air and China Airlines banned using or charging power banks on flights (effective March 1, 2025)
- Thai Airways implemented a similar ban, citing “incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines”
South Korean aviation authorities documented 13 aircraft fires caused by electronic device batteries between 2020 and 2024. Power banks caused nine of these incidents, while telephone and e-cigarette batteries each triggered one fire.
Why Lithium Batteries Pose Risks
Each lithium-ion battery contains cells that can heat rapidly in a chain reaction, potentially causing fires or explosions. The FAA warns this can happen if batteries are:
- Damaged
- Overcharged
- Overheated
- Exposed to water
- Manufactured with defects
Neeraj Sharma, chemistry professor at the University of New South Wales who studies batteries, notes that while smartphones and laptops have strict regulations, power banks are less regulated, raising malfunction risks.
“Make sure you get your devices from reputable manufacturers,” Professor Sharma advised.
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Crew Response to Battery Fires
Airline crews are generally well-prepared to handle lithium battery fires, which are rarely deadly. Common procedures include:
- Placing overheating devices in thermal containment bags
- Submersing devices in water
- Immediate fire response protocols
In 2024, when two connected portable batteries caused a fire aboard an Eastar Jet flight from Bangkok to Seoul, “the flight crew noticed the smoke and immediately poured water on the batteries to douse the fire,” according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
