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Airlines Are Cracking Down on Power Banks After Battery Fires
American and Southwest are tightening power bank rules as regulators cite more than 700 lithium battery incidents on U.S. aircraft since 2006.
- As of May, American Airlines limits passengers to two power banks under 100 watt-hours, while Southwest Airlines recently went further by restricting passengers to one power bank per flight.
- Airlines increasingly worry about fire risks from lithium-ion batteries, with Federal Aviation Administration data documenting more than 700 incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat on U.S. aircraft since 2006.
- Travelers should identify watt-hours printed on devices; a typical travel charger carries 37 watt-hours, though passengers can calculate capacity using milliamp-hours multiplied by the standard 3.7-volt conversion divided by 1,000.
- Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar banned power banks entirely as of December, Singapore Airlines prohibited onboard charging effective 1st April 2025, and Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department banned power bank use following a March fire on a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou.
- The International Civil Aviation Organization issued new recommendations in March that shape evolving global policies, though airline rules continue varying by carrier and region, with UK Civil Aviation Authority head Glenn Bradley noting lithium batteries power numerous travel devices.
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How are airlines restricting power banks?
Power banks: what’s changing and what it means Several airlines have tightened rules around portable chargers (power banks) following fire safety concerns tied to lithium batteries. The practical takeaway for travelers is simple: expect more consistency requirements around how and where you carry…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution87% Center
Bias Distribution
- 87% of the sources are Center
87% Center
13%
C 87%
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