Airlines tightening rules on chargers
Some carriers are starting to limit chargers and power banks on flights to reduce fire risks tied to lithium batteries, so your usual pack of spare power banks might not be welcome everywhere. (ksla.com) The practical result: check airline rules before you travel or plan to carry-on the batteries you’ll need for long travel days. (ksla.com)
The thing airlines are suddenly worried about is not your phone. It is the loose battery pack in your backpack, because a spare lithium battery can overheat, smoke, or catch fire if it is damaged or short-circuits. (faa.gov) That is why United States rules already say power banks cannot go in checked luggage. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration both say spare lithium batteries have to stay in the cabin, where crew can reach them fast if something goes wrong. (faa.gov) (tsa.gov) Now some airlines are going further than that basic carry-on rule. Southwest said on April 7 that, starting April 20, 2026, each passenger will be limited to one portable charger, it cannot go in an overhead bin, and it cannot be recharged from an in-seat outlet during the flight. (yahoo.com) Lufthansa Group moved earlier. Its rule took effect on January 15, 2026, and allows a maximum of two power banks per passenger, while banning both use and charging on board and requiring the batteries to stay on your person, in the seat pocket, or in a bag under the seat. (business.lufthansagroup.com) The global rulebook shifted on March 27, 2026, when the International Civil Aviation Organization said passengers would be limited to two power banks and barred from recharging them in flight. The airline trade group’s 2026 passenger guidance also says the document was revised to reflect upcoming changes around power banks. (icao.int) (iata.org) Airlines are reacting to a steady stream of cabin incidents, not a single freak accident. Reuters reported the Federal Aviation Administration counted 97 battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat on flights in 2025, up from 89 in 2024. (yahoo.com) One case pushed the issue into public view. South Korea said on March 14, 2025, that a spare power bank was a possible cause of the January 28, 2025 Air Busan fire, which started in an overhead bin area before all 176 people on board evacuated. (ntd.com) (abc.net.au) The overhead-bin part matters because a battery that fails under a seat or in your hand is visible in seconds. A battery that fails in a closed bin can build heat and smoke before a crew member even knows which bag is burning. (faa.gov) (business.lufthansagroup.com) There is also a size rule hiding in the fine print. The Federal Aviation Administration says most spare lithium-ion batteries up to 100 watt-hours are allowed in carry-on bags, while larger spare batteries from 101 to 160 watt-hours usually need airline approval and are capped at two. (faa.gov) So the old habit of tossing three or four backup chargers into a carry-on is becoming airline-specific. The safest move now is to check the operating airline’s battery page before you fly, count how many packs you are carrying, and keep each one protected against short circuit instead of loose next to keys or coins. (faa.gov) (iata.org)
