Emirates sets new rules for power banks onboard flights from October 1
Emirates has announced that as of October 1, 2025, all types of power banks will be prohibited on board. However, Emirates customers are allowed to carry one power bank onboard with the conditions stated below. Power banks cannot be used on the aircraft cabin either to charge devices, or to be charged using the aircraft's power sources.
Emirates’ new regulations include:
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Emirates travelers are permitted to bring along one power bank which is less than 100 Watt Hours.
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Power banks are prohibited from being used to charge personal devices during the flight.
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Power banks cannot be charged using the aircraft outlet.
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All power banks taken on board must have their Watt Hours and rating clearly labeled.
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Power banks cannot be placed in the aircraft’s overhead lockers. They must be kept either in the seat pocket in front or placed in a bag sitting under the seat.
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Power banks cannot be placed in checked luggage, as per current regulations.
Why is Emirates making this change?
Following a detailed safety evaluation, Dubai’s major airline is implementing strong measures to reduce risks related to power banks brought onboard. Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in the use of power banks by customers, resulting in a surge of lithium battery related incidents on flights across the aviation industry.
Power banks serve as portable battery packs to charge electronic devices while on the go. In addition, they mainly use lithium ion or lithium polymer batteries. The batteries consist of lithium ions that are suspended in an electrolyte solution. When the power banks are charged or during discharging, lithium ions travel in between the two electrodes.
If a battery is overcharged or incorrectly punctured, it may potentially lead ‘thermal runaway.’ In relation to batteries, thermal runaway is the process in which a battery cell's internal temperature rises beyond the cell’s capacity to disperse heat. It can lead to a rapid and uncontrollable temperature increase. There are dire outcomes from this, such as fire and explosions, in addition to the emission of poisonous gases.
Device power banks and more complex devices that use lithium batteries usually come with a built-in trickle charger. Basic power banks do not have this feature. Embracing basic power banks can cause fires which contradicts the internal systems power banks are meant to have. It is assumed that basic power banks and advanced devices which are capable of functioning as power banks are kept full at all times and are ready to use at a moments notice.
The new guidelines issued by Emirates aim to prevent power bank usage on air planes which can potentially increase power bank fires. In the rare chance a power bank fire occurs, keeping the power bank in the cabin can lead to swift responses from flight attendants who can immediately put the fire out.
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