Airline travelers are on the verge of a significant shift. Emirates has updated its travel policies, with the new rule indicating starting October 1, 2025, travelers are prohibited from using power banks on board.
Emirates announced a total prohibition against the use of a power bank on-board any flight. The new policy is intended to improve safety for travelers while flying.
In accordance with the new rules, travelers can only take one power bank on a flight. The power bank must not exceed a 100Wh limit. Power banks exceeding this amount are not allowed.
Even if a passenger has a power bank, they must keep it off for the entirety of the flight. Usage on board is not permitted, even at the direction of the Emirates flight crew.
The prohibition applies beyond personal usage. Travelers on Emirates may not plug their power bank into the seat socket in-flight. Charging their power bank in-flight will also be against the new policy.
Plus, this means that travelers will not be able to recharge their phones, laptops, or headphones with their power banks while flying. Emirates states that it is their intent to maintain the utmost onboard safety.
Emirates argues that the use of power banks has increased exponentially in recent years, and this increase has correlated to battery-related safety events.
The aviation sector has seen a marked rise in the number of incidents related to lithium-ion batteries. Incidents like these can cause fires and may compromise the safety of all passengers aboard the airplane.
For these reasons, if it reduces risk, Emirates will enforce the prohibition of power bank usage on the airplane. The airline stated that protecting people is its main priority.
Emirates allows passengers to bring on board one power bank, below 100Wh (roughly equivalent to 27,000 mAh). If the power bank exceeds 100Wh, it cannot be brought inside the aircraft, period.
The airline also pointed out specific placement regulations. Passengers must place the power banks in either the seat pocket, or under a front seat.
Power banks cannot be carried in unsafe places, like open bags or in the passenger’s hand. Placement restrictions need to support fast access in the case of an emergency.
Passengers may find this change burdensome. Many people would use power banks to recharge devices during flights, especially on longer flights, and now they are reliant on in-seat charging ports.
The airline indicated that they are less burdensome than the safety benefits of the placement rule. Protecting passengers is still the real reason for the new rules being set to a stricter level.
Emirates’ decision is in response to long-standing issues over batteries. To place safety over convenience, so passengers can now prepare for something else, and not become another travel-maintenance issue.
As it stands, airlines are looking to put strong measures in place – so that there is reduced risk and confirmation that travel is safe for yourself, and for all passengers, while you’re still on board the aircraft.
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