On several airlines, slipping a battery pack out of your bag mid‑flight to top up your phone has just gone from routine habit to forbidden move, and the change is stricter than most passengers realise.
What has changed for power banks on European flights
The Lufthansa Group has tightened its rules around portable batteries, also known as power banks, on all its airlines. That means the new restrictions apply on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Edelweiss Air and Brussels Airlines.
Power banks are now allowed in the cabin, but you cannot use them to charge devices or recharge them in flight.
Until recently, passengers were allowed to plug a cable into a power bank during the flight, provided the device stayed in sight, usually on the seat tray. Charging the battery pack itself from the seat power socket was already banned from May 2025.
Under the latest rules, the Lufthansa Group has gone a step further: you must carry the battery on your person, not buried in a backpack in the overhead bin, and not connected to anything.
Use is banned, not the battery itself
Despite some confusion on social media, power banks are not completely banned from Lufthansa Group flights. You can still bring them on board as part of your hand luggage, but they must stay switched off and unplugged.
That means no more topping up your phone, tablet or laptop from a battery pack during the flight. If your phone dies halfway across the Atlantic, you will have to rely on the in‑seat USB socket or cabin power supply, if available, rather than your own kit.
The airlines also insist that the battery stays on your body or at least within immediate reach, for example in a pocket or a small bag at your feet. Placing it in the overhead locker is now against the rules.
Why airlines are turning against power banks
The shift is driven by a growing worry around lithium‑ion batteries and the risk of fire on board. Power banks contain dense energy cells which, if damaged or faulty, can go into what is known as thermal runaway.
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A single overheating battery can release intense heat and smoke in seconds, which is a serious problem in a confined aircraft cabin.
In early 2025, an Airbus A321 on the ground in South Korea caught fire due to a power bank that overheated and ignited. The incident did not cause mass casualties, but it served as a stark reminder of how quickly these devices can fail.
Faced with a series of similar events worldwide, airline safety teams have been re‑examining how many batteries they want sitting on board, and under what conditions. Cutting off in‑flight use reduces both the number of active batteries and the chances that one will be left charging unattended.
Why power banks are banned from checked baggage
Many travellers still assume the safest compromise is to throw their power bank into checked luggage. For airlines and regulators, that is the worst option.
If a battery overheats in the hold, there is no passenger or crew member nearby to spot smoke or a burning smell. Fire‑suppression systems in the baggage compartment are good, but they are not designed to handle an intense localised battery fire that keeps feeding itself.
For this reason, international rules already ban spare lithium‑ion batteries and power banks from checked luggage on nearly all commercial flights. They must stay in the cabin, where someone can react quickly if something goes wrong.
New limits on battery capacity and quantity
The Lufthansa Group’s policy also sets clear capacity limits for power banks on board. The rules mirror much of the current international guidance, but with a firm written‑approval step for larger units.
| Battery capacity (Wh) | What is allowed on Lufthansa Group flights |
|---|---|
| Up to 100 Wh | Allowed in cabin, up to two power banks per passenger, no special permission required |
| 100–160 Wh | Allowed only with written approval from the airline before travel |
| Above 160 Wh | Not allowed as passenger baggage at all |
The vast majority of everyday power banks fall below 100 Wh, which roughly corresponds to around 27,000 mAh at 3.7 volts. Many compact models sit in the 10,000–20,000 mAh range.
Larger packs aimed at laptops, cameras or camping use can approach or exceed the 100 Wh line. Passengers carrying those will need to check the exact rating printed on the casing and, if necessary, contact the airline in advance.
Other airlines and countries with strict rules
Regular Air France customers may already be familiar with similar restrictions. The French flag carrier has, for some time, prohibited the use of power banks during the flight, even though they are allowed in the cabin as spare batteries.
China goes further still. Chinese authorities closely inspect power banks at security screening, and the condition of the label matters.
- If the capacity label is missing, worn off or unreadable, the power bank can be confiscated.
- Uncertified power banks without the mandatory CCC (China Compulsory Certification) logo are not allowed.
- Numbers of power banks per person may be limited, depending on the airport and airline.
Since summer 2023, the CCC mark has been mandatory on power banks entering the Chinese market. Travellers bringing older or imported models without the logo risk being turned away at security or asked to throw the device away.
Why some regions push harder on certification
Authorities in China and other countries argue that uncertified batteries are more likely to use poor‑quality cells, thin casings and weak protection circuits. These shortcuts make overheating and swelling more likely, especially as batteries age.
By demanding clear capacity labels and certification marks, regulators want security officers to quickly judge what is safe to bring aboard and what is a potential hazard.
How to prepare before your next trip
For passengers, the practical question is simple: how do you keep your devices powered without clashing with these rules?
Check your airline’s battery policy before you pack, and assume that in‑flight use of your power bank might be banned.
Several steps can reduce frustration:
- Charge phones, tablets and laptops fully before leaving for the airport.
- Use in‑seat USB or power outlets instead of your own power bank whenever available.
- Carry smaller, clearly labeled power banks under 100 Wh to avoid questions at security.
- Keep power banks in a pocket or small bag at your feet, not in the overhead bin.
- Inspect older batteries for swelling, cracks or heat issues and retire anything suspicious.
If your travel plan includes China or other regions with tough screening, check that your power bank shows both the capacity in Wh or mAh and any required certification logos. Taking a photo of the label before travel can also help if it fades later.
What “Wh” means, and how to read your battery
Many power banks list their capacity in milliamp‑hours (mAh), while airlines talk in watt‑hours (Wh). This confuses a lot of travellers trying to work out if their device is allowed.
A rough way to convert is to multiply the mAh figure by 3.7 (the typical voltage of a lithium cell) and divide by 1000. For example, a 20,000 mAh power bank is roughly 74 Wh. That sits comfortably below the 100 Wh limit.
Newer models increasingly print both the mAh and Wh figures on the casing. If yours only shows mAh, you can do the calculation yourself or check the manufacturer’s technical sheet before you fly.
What happens if a power bank overheats on board
Cabin crew are trained to react quickly if a lithium battery begins to smoke or heat up. They may use protective gloves, fire‑resistant bags and large quantities of water or non‑alcoholic drinks to cool the unit.
This is why airlines want the battery on your person or in reach: you are more likely to notice the first hint of heat or smell of burning plastic and alert crew early. A few seconds can make a big difference.
If your battery feels unusually warm during a flight, stop using it straight away, unplug any cables and flag it to cabin crew. Do not try to hide it or cool it with ice packs; just let the professionals handle it.
Why travellers might rethink how many gadgets they carry
These tighter rules might push some passengers to travel lighter. Carrying multiple large battery packs, older electronics and tangled chargers now carries more hassle and more risk of conflict at security or in the cabin.
Many newer phones and laptops manage a full workday on a single charge. Pair that with seat‑back power and a single small, compliant power bank, and you can stay connected without hauling a pocket full of lithium.
Originally posted 2026-02-20 01:51:45.