Power banks on planes
Power banks go in the cabin, never in checked bags. Up to 100 Wh is fine everywhere; 100–160 Wh needs approval and is now refused by many airlines; over 160 Wh can't fly as a spare battery. What changed in 2025–2026 is using them: 82 of the 158 airlines we track now ban using or charging a power bank on board.
The baseline rules
| Regulator | No approval needed | With airline approval | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAA | up to 100 Wh | 100–160 Wh | Power banks are spare batteries: carry-on only, terminals protected, removed from gate-checked bags. Two spare batteries max in the 101-160 Wh band with airline approval |
| UK Civil Aviation Authority | up to 100 Wh | 100–160 Wh | CAA page does not mention power banks by name; rules are for spare lithium batteries. Max two spare batteries in the 100-160 Wh band, operator approval required |
| EASA | up to 100 Wh | 100–160 Wh | Passenger guidance based on EASA's Safety Information Bulletin: power banks in hand luggage where they can be monitored; do not use power banks to charge devices on board; approval needed for 100-160 Wh. The SIB itself was not read. |
| Transport Canada / CATSA | up to 100 Wh | 100–160 Wh | No Transport Canada passenger page with power-bank numbers was found (tc.canada.ca/en/lithium-batteries covers shipping). CATSA guidance defers to airline policies and IATA: 100 Wh without approval, 100-160 Wh with airline approval; advises carry-on only and not in overhead bins. |
| CASA | up to 100 Wh | 100–160 Wh | Spare batteries and power banks in the cabin only, never in checked luggage. 100-160 Wh needs airline approval; over 160 Wh prohibited in passenger baggage (except mobility aids) |
| ICAO Technical Instructions 2025-2026 / IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations 67th | up to 100 Wh | not offered | 2026 guidance: max two power banks, each ≤100 Wh; power banks over 100 Wh listed as forbidden; not to be recharged from aircraft power; not in overhead lockers; not used during taxi, take-off or landing. IATA calls these proposed restrictions that airlines are adopting early. |
Every airline's power bank rule
| Airline | Use on board | Max number | Wh limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Aer Lingus | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Aeroitalia | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Aerolíneas Argentinas | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Aeromexico | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Air Arabia | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Air Canada | Not stated | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air Caraïbes | Not allowed | 5 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air China | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air Dolomiti | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air Europa | Not stated | — | — |
| Air France | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air India | Restricted | — | 100 Wh |
| Air India Express | Not stated | — | — |
| Air Mauritius | Restricted | — | 100 Wh |
| Air New Zealand | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional) | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| Air Serbia | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Air Tahiti Nui | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Air Transat | Not stated | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| AirAsia | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| airBaltic | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Akasa Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Alaska Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Allegiant Air | Not stated | 20 | 100 Wh |
| American Airlines | Allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Arajet | Not stated | — | — |
| Asiana Airlines | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Austrian Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Avelo Airlines | Restricted | — | 100 Wh |
| Avianca | Not stated | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Azul Brazilian Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Bahamasair | Not stated | — | — |
| Bangkok Airways | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Binter | Not stated | — | — |
| Breeze Airways | Not stated | — | 100 Wh |
| British Airways | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Brussels Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Caribbean Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Cathay Pacific | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Cayman Airways | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Cebu Pacific | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| China Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| China Eastern | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| China Southern | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Condor | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Copa Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Corendon Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Corsair | Not stated | — | — |
| Croatia Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Delta Air Lines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Discover Airlines | Not stated | — | — |
| easyJet | Not allowed | 2 | 160 Wh |
| Edelweiss Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| EgyptAir | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| El Al | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Emirates | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Enter Air | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Etihad Airways | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Eurowings | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| EVA Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Fiji Airways | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Finnair | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Flair Airlines | Not stated | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| flyadeal | Not stated | — | — |
| Flybondi | Not stated | — | — |
| flydubai | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| flynas | Not stated | — | — |
| FlyOne | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| FlySafair | Restricted | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| French bee | Not stated | — | — |
| Frontier Airlines | Not stated | — | — |
| Garuda Indonesia | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| GOL | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Gulf Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Hainan Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Iberia | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Iberia Express | Not stated | — | — |
| Icelandair | Not stated | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| IndiGo | Not allowed | 2 | 160 Wh |
| ITA Airways | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Japan Airlines (JAL) | Not allowed | 2 | 160 Wh |
| Jeju Air | Not allowed | 5 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Jet2.com | Not stated | — | — |
| JetBlue | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| JetSMART | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Jetstar | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Jin Air | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Kenya Airways | Not stated | — | — |
| KLM | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| KM Malta Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Korean Air | Not allowed | — | — |
| Kuwait Airways | Not stated | — | — |
| LATAM Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| LEVEL | Not stated | — | — |
| Lion Air | Not allowed | — | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Loganair | Not allowed | 2 | 160 Wh |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Lufthansa | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Luxair | Not stated | — | — |
| Malaysia Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Marabu Airlines | Not stated | — | 100 Wh |
| Neos | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Nok Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Norse Atlantic Airways | Not stated | — | — |
| Norwegian | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Oman Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| PAL Airlines | Not stated | — | — |
| Peach Aviation | Not allowed | 2 | 160 Wh |
| Pegasus Airlines | Restricted | — | — |
| Philippine Airlines | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Plus Ultra | Not stated | — | — |
| Porter Airlines | Not stated | — | 100 Wh |
| Qantas | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| Qatar Airways | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Rex Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| Riyadh Air | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| Royal Air Maroc | Not stated | — | 100 Wh |
| Royal Jordanian | Not stated | — | — |
| Ryanair | Restricted | 2 | 100 Wh |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Saudia | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| Scoot | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Singapore Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| SKY Airline | Not stated | — | — |
| SKY express | Not stated | — | 100 Wh |
| Smartwings | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| South African Airways | Restricted | — | 100 Wh |
| Southwest Airlines | Restricted | 1 | 100 Wh |
| SpiceJet | Not allowed | — | — |
| STARLUX Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | — |
| Sun Country Airlines | Not stated | — | — |
| SunExpress | Not stated | 2 | — |
| SWISS | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| T'way Air | Not stated | — | — |
| TAP Air Portugal | Not stated | — | — |
| TAROM | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Thai Airways | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Transavia | Not stated | — | — |
| TUI Airways / TUIfly | Not stated | — | — |
| Turkish Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| United Airlines | Allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| VietJet Air | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Vietnam Airlines | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Virgin Atlantic | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Virgin Australia | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| Viva Aerobus | Not stated | — | — |
| Volaris | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Volotea | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Vueling | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh |
| WestJet | Restricted | 1 | — |
| Widerøe | Not stated | 2 | 100 Wh |
| Wizz Air | Not allowed | 1 | 100 Wh |
| World2fly | Not allowed | 2 | 100 Wh (160 with approval) |
| ZIPAIR | Not stated | — | — |
Is your power bank recalled?
Recalled power banks are refused at security in some countries and some airlines ask you to check. Look up the model number on the label: CPSC recalls (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) · Government of Canada recall: Anker power banks A1647, A1681, A1689 (linked from PAL Airlines).
Questions people ask
Can you take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in your cabin bag or on you, never in checked luggage. Up to 100 Wh needs no approval; 100–160 Wh needs the airline’s approval where the airline still allows it; over 160 Wh is not allowed.
How many power banks can I bring?
More and more airlines cap it at two (IATA’s 2026 guidance), and 11 we track allow only one: Southwest Airlines, WestJet, Wizz Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Aegean Airlines, El Al, EgyptAir, Aerolíneas Argentinas, flydubai, Riyadh Air.
Can I use my power bank during the flight?
82 of the 158 airlines we track ban using or charging power banks on board; 19 restrict it (for example, not during taxi, take-off and landing, or only while visible). Check the table below for your airline.
How do I work out watt-hours?
Watt-hours = milliamp-hours × volts ÷ 1,000. Most power banks list 3.6 or 3.7 V. A 20,000 mAh bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh. Use the calculator.
Regulator pages and airline pages checked 5 October 2026.