Goodbye to charging your phone in the plane: several airlines are banning these devices in their flights

Flying used to be the perfect time to top up your cell, tablet or laptop battery while you binged on offline content (or actually followed through on the claim to your boss that you’d be working at 35,000 feet!). But if you’re traveling through Asia, that habit may soon get grounded – literally.

Several major airlines are clamping down on in-flight power bank use, blaming them for a growing number of onboard fires.

Why are portable batteries being banned from flights?

Investigators believe that a fire on an Air Busan plane in South Korea earlier this year was sparked by a portable lithium-ion power bank. The blaze erupted while the aircraft was still on the tarmac, and the transport ministry later confirmed it had found telltale “electrical melting marks” on the remains of the battery. A meltdown worse than that toddler in the seat behind you!

Lithium-ion batteries that are used in phones, laptops and these power banks are efficient but can be volatile. If damaged, overheated, or poorly manufactured, they can ignite. The FAA has logged over 500 incidents of lithium battery-related smoke, fire, or overheating in US skies alone over the past two decades.

What airlines are changing charging rules?

South Korea has gone first with sweeping new rules. Charging power banks on flights is now banned. You’re also not allowed to store them in overhead bins. Instead, they must be kept under your seat or in the seat pocket, and outlets must be covered – either with tape or a protective pouch – to stop accidental contact with metal objects, where the main danger lies.

Thailand’s national carrier, Thai Airways, has gone even further, banning the use or charging of power banks entirely since March 15. Singapore Airlines will follow in April with a similar rule. The same goes for Air Asia, EVA Air, China Airlines, Uni Air, and Hong Kong Express. Even Hong Kong’s aviation authority is mandating stricter storage and usage rules.

Can I still bring a power bank onto the plane?

Yes... for now at least. International guidelines, including those from the FAA and TSA, still allow power banks in carry-on baggage (not checked luggage), as long as they’re under a certain capacity.

Here’s the rough rule of thumb:

• Under 100 watt-hours (Wh)? Usually fine.
• Between 100–160Wh? You’ll need airline approval.
• Anything bigger? Leave it at home.

To confuse things further, most manufacturers list power banks in milliamp-hours (mAh). As a guide, 43,000 mAh is about the upper limit for a 100Wh device, depending on voltage. You’ll likely get three or four top-ups of you cell with that.

While US and European airlines haven’t followed Asia’s lead – yet - the trend is clear. The more incidents that occur, the more likely it is others will jump on board.

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