Due to heightening safety concerns around taking portable electronic devices (PEDs) and powerbanks on planes, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued guidelines about what passengers can and cannot take on board, and a number of airlines have updated their terms of carriage.
IATA guidance
The IATA states that lithium batteries and devices powered by them are a worry on aircraft and may only be taken on board “subject to certain conditions.” Portable power banks, electronic cigarettes and spare batteries “of any type” must only be taken on a flight if they are packed in carry-on bags.
In fact, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the IATA all say that portable electronic devices are to be kept in hand luggage. Most airlines also now insist on this (see below), so it’s worth checking with the carrier ahead of the flight. PEDs are defined by the IATA as “lightweight, electrically-powered equipment” such as laptops, tablets, e-readers, smartphones, MP3 players, drones and electronic toys.
Many of us have experienced how hot a device in stand-by or hibernation mode can become, so, according to the IATA, unused devices should also be switched off completely when taken on an aircraft.
What about charging devices up on board?
The advent of portable lithium-ion power banks (a kind of go-anywhere power supply) means people can now charge their devices wherever they are and stay entertained. However, the IATA points out that charging is a particularly dodgy time for PEDs. Over 500 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire, or heat have occurred during flights in the last 20 years, according to FAA records.
Therefore, it’s important to keep an eye on any devices being charged, take care not to let them slide down inside seats, and, again, switch them off when not in use. What’s more, certain countries and airlines have their own rules.
Which airlines and countries have banned powerbank use and charging?
In Hong Kong and South Korea, new regulations forbid passengers from charging devices from airline sockets, outlaw the use of powerbanks in the air, and demand that passengers keep powerbanks in seat pockets or under seats with socket protection such as friction tape or a zipped bag around them to prevent metal contact.
Other Asian carriers are also cracking down on powerbanks. Air Asia, EVA Air, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Uni Air have all banned their use.
What about just carrying them and not using them?
Even if they are not being used, rules still dictate how many lithium-ion batteries or powerbanks each passenger can have in their possession – and remember, they should never be checked-in.
Most airlines do not allow more than two per passenger, with a maximum 100-160 Watt-hour (Wh) or about 43,000 mAh capacity each. Many now demand that special permission is requested for items over 100 Wh and that they are kept in short-circuit proof packaging. To avoid belongings being confiscated or, indeed, causing a safety incident, it’s essential to check the airline’s rules of carriage before setting out.
DYK lithium batteries aboard aircraft can overheat, smoke and catch fire, presenting a safety risk? These incidents reached an all-time annual high last year and the number is growing. Learn how the FAA helps prevent incidents and how to #PackSafe. https://t.co/dv9xKyVb6e pic.twitter.com/6MUWyDYZKM
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 9, 2025
Meanwhile, good old-fashioned dry cell alkaline batteries get the thumbs up from the FAA but only with a voltage under 12 volts and with terminals protected from metal contact.
