Emirates prohibits in-flight power bank use from 1 October 2025

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Tasleem Gierdien

19 August 2025 | 8:43

'You can bring the power bank on the flight, you just can't use it on the flight,' Brendon Peterson, Editor - Reframed

Emirates prohibits in-flight power bank use from 1 October 2025

Some airlines like Emirates have new rules about power banks on flights, a "travel essential" for some.

While passengers can still bring one power bank with a capacity under 100Wh, they are no longer permitted to use them to charge devices or the power bank itself during the flight.

The airline will prohibit their in-flight use from 1 October 2025.

Emirates’ new regulations include:        

  • Emirates customers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours.
  • Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard.
  • Charging a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply is not permitted.
  • All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available. 
  • Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you.
  • Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule).

The airline explained why they've updated their policy... 

"After a comprehensive safety review, power banks primarily utilise lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. The batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. The ions flow through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges. If the battery is overcharged or damaged, it may result in ‘thermal runaway.’ Thermal runaway in batteries is a self-accelerating process where heat generation within a battery cell exceeds its ability to dissipate heat, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable temperature increase which may result in dangerous consequences like fire, explosions, and the release of toxic gases," reads the airline's statement.

"The primary reason for these stricter rules around power bank usage... and it's not a ban... you can bring it on board, you just cannot use it while flying... is not a new concern but it's due to more people using power banks, some carry more than one and in large capacities, you don't know if there's a fault because it's been dropped a few times, if it's certified... There is a potential concern for fires or short circuits having these power banks on flights. Because they can't look inside your power bank to see if it's up to regulation, this is a pre-emptive move more than anything else."
- Brendon Peterson, Editor - 'Reframed'
"You can bring the power bank on the flight, you just can't use it on the flight..."
- Brendon Peterson, Editor - 'Reframed'

Alternatively, to keep devices charged during long-haul flights, passengers can:

  • fully charge your devices before the flight,
  • recharge your devices with power banks at connecting airports, should your travel journey have connecting flights,
  • use seat-back power outlets to charge devices - however, some outlets might not be compatible with your device, 
  • get devices with bigger batteries,
  • put devices in power-saving mode to save battery life,
  • bring along a book or other offline activities for when device batteries die. 
"You now have to pick and choose, if your device doesn't have a battery that's going to last long enough, is it important to answer an email or WhatsApp on the plane? Or can it wait for 15-hours?"
- Brendon Peterson, Editor - 'Reframed'

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