Airlines are introducing stricter rules for portable batteries following a serious fire on a South Korean Air Busan flight in January 2025. Germany’s Lufthansa is leading the effort in Europe, tightening safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.
Stricter Rules for Onboard Use
Lufthansa now bans passengers from using power banks to charge devices during flights or connecting them to seatback entertainment systems. While passengers can still bring the batteries in cabin luggage, storing them in overhead compartments is no longer allowed. Travelers must keep power banks on their person or in hand luggage under the seat.
Limits on Size and Quantity
The airline has capped power banks at a maximum of 100 watt hours, or roughly 27,000 mAh. Passengers wishing to carry larger batteries must notify the airline in advance and obtain approval, or risk confiscation and destruction. Each traveler is limited to two power banks per flight. These rules apply across all Lufthansa flights and affiliated carriers, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Discover, and Air Dolomiti.
Learning From a Tragic Fire
The policy change comes after a power bank ignited in an overhead compartment on an Air Busan Airbus A321, injuring 27 people. The fire engulfed the fuselage within minutes, though passengers evacuated safely using emergency slides. Investigators confirmed the blaze was caused by a damaged battery.
The incident has prompted aviation authorities worldwide to reassess safety measures for lithium batteries, and airlines are now taking stronger precautions to reduce the risk of fires in the air.
