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Under new rules issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), passengers on international flights are now limited to two power banks in the cabin, and charging them is banned. The new restrictions, which came into effect on 27 March 2026, were approved by all 36 ICAO Council member states and apply to all 193 member countries. This change represents the first coordinated international standard on portable battery limits in aviation.
A rise in battery incidents has prompted industry change
The new restrictions follow a series of lithium battery incidents on board commercial flights, which have escalated through 2024 and 2025. By June 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 38 incidents in the US alone. The new rules state that power banks cannot be stowed in overhead bins ensuring that if a battery begins to overheat or ignite, it is visible and accessible to the crew, as demonstrated in the Air China Flight CA139 incident in October 2025, where a battery ignited into flames in the overhead locker. A fire onboard Air Busan Flight BX391, which investigators said was started by a power bank stored in the overhead locker, has accelerated the push for tighter industry-wide standards.
Read our full review of aviation’s most significant accidents in 2025 and what the industry learned.
Unlike smartphones or laptops, a power bank contains only a battery with no active thermal management, no temperature sensors, and no software monitoring for unusual power draw. When something goes wrong, there is no safety backup to catch it before it escalates. That structural risk is compounded by the sheer volume of devices boarding every flight.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stated that passengers carry on average up to four lithium battery devices, at its WSOC safety conference in October 2025. This amounts to over 1800 lithium battery devices on a single Airbus A380 with 469 seats.
All ICAO airlines required to impose the new rules
The new rules apply to all 193 ICAO member states and are being implemented by global airlines. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air India, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and British Airways are among the airlines that have already aligned with the new regulations. Several carriers had already introduced their own restrictions before ICAO’s ruling, namely, Lufthansa had implemented a two-power bank limit and an in-flight charging ban across its entire group, including SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.
IATA data shows that approximately 44% of passengers currently travel with a power bank, meaning the new rules will affect a significant proportion of travellers.
Airlines must now ensure these rules are clearly passed on to passengers from the point of booking, at check-in, and during boarding procedures. During Airline Rating’s independent onboard safety audits, airlines are assessed on power bank awareness and procedures, and how effectively the crew ensure passengers keep lithium battery devices within reach.
Read our full breakdown on Lufthansa’s power bank rules across its group airlines.
Passengers are responsible for their own safety
The impact is straightforward and set to be felt worldwide. Travellers carrying more than two power banks will need to leave them at home – power banks cannot be placed in checked baggage under any circumstances.
Power bank wattage limits have also been imposed, with wattage under 100 Wh permitted without prior special permission. Those between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require prior approval by the airline, with all power banks over 160 Wh banned from all passenger aircraft. Most standard power banks fall well under the 100 Wh threshold.
For long-haul passengers who rely on portable chargers, the advice is to arrive at the airport with a full charge and make use of airport charging facilities. During flight, most long-haul airlines offer in-seat charging through USB and universal power outlets as standard.
Airlines retain the right to set additional restrictions beyond ICAO’s baseline, so passengers should always check with their specific airline before travelling.
As these new rules ripple across the globe, airlines must ensure they are prepared with information from the point of booking to boarding, not just through small-print policy, but through clear and proactive communication at every stage of the journey.
Josh wood, Safety and Service Manager at airlineratings.com says, “These rules exist because the alternative is a fire at 35,000 feet with no easy way to stop it. Airline Ratings welcomes the industry-wide move on power banks. Lithium battery fires are one of the fastest-escalating safety risks in commercial aviation, and a coordinated global standard is long overdue. With 44% of passengers travelling with a power bank and an estimated 1,800 lithium devices on a single A38 flight, the margin for complacency is gone.”
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