The following change will gradually become reality with most airlines. This editor experienced, firsthand, increased diligence regarding power banks during travel to China in Nov. 2024 and Europe in Mar. 2025. His ‘old’ USB powered external hard drive was often mistaken for a power bank! It seems that power banks are currently only using Lithium-ion battery chemistry, rather than the safer lithium ion/phosphate. In addition, if they are cheap, they do not have a quality CCM (computer control mechanism).
Emirates has announced it will ban the use of power banks on board all its flights from 1 October 2025. That’s correct, those pocket-sized lifesavers for your dying phone will now be for ground use only. Passengers may bring one aboard, but it must stay OFF.
The announcement marks a sharp tightening of safety regulations in response to a worrying spike in lithium battery-related incidents across the airline industry. And Emirates, never shy of playing the long game regarding safety, is moving early and decisively.
THE NEW RULES IN BRIEF
From October, Emirates customers may carry only one power bank, provided:
- It’s under 100 Watt Hours.
- It’s not used to charge any devices in-flight.
- It’s not charged from the aircraft’s power supply.
- Its capacity rating is marked.
- It’s not placed in overhead lockers — instead, it must be in your seat pocket or under the seat ahead.
- It’s never in checked baggage (that one’s been a rule for years).
The ban applies to all cabins, from economy to first class. Champagne is still permitted, but don’t try to plug your phone into it.
WHY NOW? SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS
The decision comes after a comprehensive safety review found a sharp rise in power bank use, and with it, more incidents involving lithium batteries. Emirates’ safety specialists have zeroed in on the thermal runaway phenomenon, a chain reaction that can turn a harmless gadget into a mini blowtorch.
Power banks typically house lithium-ion or lithium-polymer cells. Lithium ions swim in an electrolyte, shuttling between electrodes as they charge and discharge. But if damaged or overcharged, the chemistry can spiral out of control. Temperatures skyrocket, flammable gases are released, and before you can say “seatbelt sign on”, you’ve got a potential fire hazard in the cabin.
Most smartphones and top-end devices have clever circuitry to prevent overcharging. Many cheaper power banks, however, do not. Emirates is stepping in because of that gap in safety standards.
CABIN ACCESS IS KEY
One subtle but important detail in the new rules is where you keep your power bank. It must now be stored within easy reach, in a pocket or bag under the seat ahead, not buried in an overhead bin.
This isn’t just fussiness. If a power bank were to overheat or ignite, cabin crew need immediate access to smother the flames. Emirates’ crew are trained to handle such incidents, but seconds matter.
AN INDUSTRY TREND
Emirates isn’t the first airline to tighten rules on lithium batteries, and it won’t be the last. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has long flagged lithium cells as a fire risk, and many carriers have already banned certain battery types from being on hold.
What Emirates is doing differently is drawing a firm line on in-flight use, eliminating the two most significant risks in one stroke: charging from a potentially faulty power bank, and overloading one from the aircraft’s power system.
PASSENGERS: ADJUST YOUR ROUTINE
For those accustomed to topping up devices mid-air, this will mean a rethink. The practical advice?
- Charge everything before boarding.
- Use the aircraft’s built-in USB or power outlets for direct charging.
- Keep your power bank for the airport lounge, transit stops, or once you’ve landed.
A list showing a range of airlines who have instigated new rules in 2025 related to power banks.
| Airline | Date of change | New rules |
| Singapore Airlines & Scoot | April 1, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| EVA Air | March 1, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Thai Airways | March 15, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| AirAsia | March 15, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| China Airlines | March 1, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Air Busan | February 5, 2025 | Do not store in overhead locker, fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Korean Air | March 1, 2025 | Do not store in overhead locker, fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Asiana Airlines | March 1, 2025 | Do not store in overhead locker, fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Starlux Airlines | Since 2018 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Tigerair Taiwan | March 1, 2025 | Fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Cathay Pacific | April 7, 2025 | Do not store in overhead locker, fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
| Hong Kong Airlines | April 7, 2025 | Do not store in overhead locker, fully charge before flight, do not use in flight |
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