Starting October 1, Emirates Airlines will ban passengers from using power banks or battery recharge packs on all its flights.
Following in the footsteps of various other major carriers, Emirates’ ban on power banks and charging devices during flights comes into effect from next month.
“Using any kind of power bank is prohibited onboard Emirates’ flights, effective from the 1 October 2025,” Emirates said.
EMIRATES BAN ON POWER BANKS
The ban is not limited to the use of power banks. It also extends to the charging of devices such as phones, tablets, laptops and cameras from a power bank, as well as the use of the seat’s USB or AC outlets to recharge battery packs.
Passengers will however, be allowed to bring a single power bank with a capacity limited to 100 Watt Hours onto flights, but it may not be used while in the aircraft cabin.
The airline says that power banks can also no longer be stowed in the overhead baggage compartment in aircraft cabins. These must now be placed in the seat pockets or in a bag under the seat in front of passengers.
Emirates is adopting this measure to mitigate risks when it comes to carrying power banks on its flights. This follows a comprehensive safety review carried out by the airline earlier this year.
LITHIUM-ION CELLS
Battery packs containing lithium-ion cells have become increasingly common among travellers for recharging mobile phones, tablets and even laptops, despite most aircraft now featuring USB outlets in every seat.
However, carrying these objects comes with a risk known as “thermal runaway”. If the battery malfunctions, there could be a rapid release of energy causing a chain reaction which produces extreme heat, fire or even an explosion. Thus increasing the risk of danger.
“There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.”
Earlier this year Korean carrier, Air Busan, caught fire at Gimhae International Airport on 28 January – causing three people on board to sustain minor injuries. The probable cause of the explosion was a portable power bank that caught alight.
After this, numerous airlines, including China Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Scoot reviewed their policies regarding the carriage and usage of power banks and charging devices on flights.
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