Airlines across Asia have started to ban the use and charging of power banks onboard flights due to rising safety concerns over lithium-ion battery-related fire incidents that took place onboard.
Joining several other Asian airlines which have implemented such bans are Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot which have announced that passengers will not be allowed to use power banks to charge their personal devices from April 1.
SIA said that passengers would also not be allowed to charge portable power banks via on-board USB ports throughout the duration of the flight, citing safety reasons for the move.
Power banks must be carried in cabin baggage on all SIA and Scoot flights. They are not permitted in checked baggage. SIA treats rechargeable battery packs, also known as power banks, as spare lithium batteries, which are not allowed in checked-in baggage, and must be carried as cabin baggage.
Passengers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require approval. Power banks above 160Wh are not allowed on flights.
South Korea bans carry-on power banks
Starting on March 1, passengers boarding flights in South Korea are required to carry portable batteries and chargers on their person rather than storing them in overhead bins.
Those using self check-in kiosks will be informed about the regulations at five different stages, including during ticket reservation, 24 hours before departure, check-in, at the boarding gate and once inside the aircraft. Airlines will also attach special stickers to approved power banks to facilitate quick security screening.
The new aviation safety regulations come in response to a fire incident aboard an Air Busan aircraft a fire incident aboard an Air Busan aircraft at Gimhae International Airport on Jan 28, which was reportedly caused by a power bank. Air Busan on Feb 4 independently banned passengers from keeping power banks and e-cigarettes in luggage stored in overhead, being the first airline to announce such a ban.
Other airlines which have announced bans on power bank charging
Thai Airways announced a complete ban on the use of power banks during flights, starting from March 15. Passengers will still be permitted to carry power banks in their carry-on luggage, provided they adhere to capacity limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
AirAsia has also implemented a policy to bar the charging of devices with power banks during flights from March 15. The airline’s regulations state that power banks must be carried in hand luggage, have clear capacity labels, be in good condition and comply with IATA safety standards.
Taiwanese airlines have followed suit. Eva Air has banned the use of portable chargers on board all its flights starting March 1. Starlux Airlines has prohibited the in-flight use of portable chargers since its launch in 2018. Instead, passengers are advised to use the charging ports near their seats.
Another Taiwanese airline, China Airlines, has advised passengers to avoid using portable chargers while on board flights from March 1. It also does not allow for portable chargers to be packed in checked luggage for safety reasons. Its regional carrier, Mandarin Airlines, adheres to the same regulations.
Fire incidents onboard
Earlier in March, a video from a passenger aboard a Batik Air flight showed the plane’s cabin filled with smoke – reportedly from a burning power bank – emanating from an overhead luggage compartment.
In 2023, two passengers aboard a Scoot flight set for take-off from Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan for Singapore were injured after a power bank overheated and caught fire.
In 2024, three incidents of overheating lithium batteries on planes a fortnight were recorded globally by the US Federal Aviation Administration, compared with just one incident a week in 2018.
Hundreds on each plane
Lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries are types of non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries found in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, watches, power banks and electronic cigarettes.
Passengers on a full flight could be carrying hundreds of rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries between them.
Manufacturing faults or damage, such as a phone being crushed in the gap between plane seats or exposed to extreme temperatures, can cause them to short circuit and rapidly overheat.
Heat, smoke and fire can result, and they can even explode in a “high-energy expulsion of extremely hot gel and parts of the device acting as shrapnel”, the Flight Safety Foundation says.
“Existing cabin crew firefighting procedures have been demonstrated to be effective for all (lithium battery) incidents which have occurred in-flight. However, if such an incident occurs while on the ground, the safest option is to evacuate the aircraft,” a spokesperson for the International Air Transport Association said.
Cabin crew are trained to put out flames with extinguishers, cool the battery with liquid and isolate the device in fire containment pouches or boxes.
Passengers must now adapt to this evolving safety standard, ensuring devices are fully charged before boarding and staying informed about airline-specific policies.
