Flying Emirates with a power bank? New rules could leave you stranded at the gate - what passengers need to know now

The decision comes following growing concerns in regard to the fire risks connected to lithium battery devices. A worrying "swelling" feature signals a possibly deadly defect, experts caution. Safety concerns increased after a serious situation earlier this year when a South Korean passenger jet run by Air Busan caught fire before departure.

Investigators think that a portable power bank caused the blaze that consumed the Airbus aircraft in January 2025. Although all 176 passengers were evacuated safely, the incident emphasized the possible dangers of carrying defective batteries onboard.

Emirates’ New Guidelines

The Dubai-based carrier revealed on Tuesday:


"Using any kind of power bank is prohibited onboard Emirates’ flights, effective from 1 October 2025.
A ‘power bank’ is a portable, rechargeable device primarily designed to provide power to other electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops and cameras."

While customers may still bring one power bank, mandatory rules apply:

• It must be below 100 watt-hours in capacity.
  
• No charging of personal gadgets from the power bank is permitted during the flight.
  
• The power bank itself cannot be recharged employing the aircraft’s power supply.
  
• The capacity measure must be clearly visible on the device.
  
• It must be kept in the seat or in the seat pocket, not in overhead compartments.
  
• Checked baggage continues to be a no-go for power banks.
  
  

Emirates cited it is taking "a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard," noting that the move followed a "comprehensive safety review."

The airline mentioned:

"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.
Emirates recommends that customers fully charge their devices before flying, especially on longer duration flights."

Global Concerns About Lithium Batteries

South Korean investigators disclosed that insulation in the faulty power bank battery may have been damaged, resulting in the Air Busan fire. Burn marks were discovered on the damaged gadget in the overhead bins.

Lithium batteries can release fumes, flames, or intense heat when damaged or poorly manufactured, resulting in a serious hazard at elevated altitudes.

Lo Kok-keung, a retired engineering professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described the challenge earlier this year:

“It would be best if there could be a blanket ban on bringing any portable power banks on a flight.
They are like a time bomb, but no one knows when it will explode.
A power bank is not an essential accessory - you do not need to charge your phone during the flight if you had charged it fully before boarding."

Wider Airline Trend

Consumer advocates at Which? magazines have cited that many airlines in the US and Asia are increasing restrictions following the incidents of overheating chargers and batteries. In one case, a China Southern Airlines flight faced smoke from a camera battery and power bank stored in the overhead compartments.

Other carriers, including Delta, have faced emergency diversions due to combusting batteries.

In August, Wired recommended travelers to examine devices before travel, cautioning that "swelling or defects" are dangerous. Overheating, smoke, or unusual warmth should initiate passengers to stop employing the device quickly and inform the crew.

FAA Raises Alarm

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released an alert after recording 50 lithium-battery events in 2025 alone that involved smoke, overheating, or fire.

The FAA cited:

“Lithium batteries (including power banks and portable chargers) can act as ignition sources and potentially start onboard fires.
Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry on baggage, may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers.
Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety.”

FAQs:

Q1. Why did Emirates ban power bank use on flights?
The ban was launched following global incidents that showed lithium batteries can overheat, resulting in smoke or fire hazards.

Q2. Can I still bring a power bank on an Emirates flight?
Yes, but only one unit is permitted, and it must be under 100 watt-hours.