What Are the New Rules About Power Banks on Flights?
)
1. What Are the New Rules Around Power Banks on Indian Flights?
If you’ve flown within India recently, you may have noticed a clear instruction from cabin crew: power banks cannot be used during the flight. While many travellers depend on portable chargers, airlines are now drawing a firm line on the usage of a power bank in flights.
This isn’t a sudden or arbitrary move. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced these restrictions due to increasing safety concerns linked to lithium battery-powered devices.
)
2. What do the DGCA Guidelines Actually Say?
)
Under existing aviation safety regulations, power banks have always been restricted items. They cannot be packed in checked-in baggage, a rule that continues unchanged. What’s new is the emphasis on not using them during the course of a flight.
Passengers are allowed to carry power banks in their cabin baggage, provided they meet capacity limits set by airlines. However, a power bank in flight cannot be switched on, charged, or used to charge phones, tablets, or any other device once onboard.
This distinction—may carry but don’t use—is central to the DGCA’s directive.
3. Carrying vs Using: What Is Allowed and What Isn’t?
Many travellers are confused about whether a flight-allowed power bank exists at all. The answer is yes—but with strict limitations. You may carry a power bank in your hand baggage, typically rated up to 100Wh (usually about 27000mAh).
However, carrying does not mean using. A power bank allowed in flight is permitted only as an inactive item.
)
4. Why Are Lithium Batteries Considered High Risk?
Power banks operate using lithium-ion batteries, which are known to pose fire hazards under certain conditions. Overheating, internal short circuits, manufacturing defects, or physical damage can trigger what experts call ‘thermal runaway,’ a rapid and uncontrollable rise in temperature that can lead to fire or explosion.
When it comes to batteries on a plane, the risk becomes more serious due to the enclosed cabin environment, and high passenger density. Even a small battery fire can escalate quickly at cruising altitude.
Globally, aviation authorities have documented incidents involving lithium battery fires, prompting regulators to act before such events become more frequent.
5. What are Important Safety Guidelines to be Kept in Mind Regarding Power Banks and Batteries?
- Keep power banks and spare batteries in the cabin—never in overhead bins; store them in the seat pocket, under the seat, or on your person.
- Protect battery terminals by using original packaging, taping the connectors, or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag.
- If a device overheats or smokes, stop using it immediately, unplug cables, and inform the cabin crew.
- Do not move a hot or smoking device yourself, and do not pour water on it unless instructed by crew.
- If a phone or battery slips into the seat, avoid adjusting the seat to prevent crushing; ask cabin crew for help.
- Do not travel with prohibited batteries—this includes damaged, swollen, or recalled batteries, or power banks without clear capacity labels.
- Follow safe battery habits: use genuine chargers, avoid dropping devices, keep them away from heat, avoid charging right before flying, and carry them at a lower state of charge.
6. What About International Flights?
Passengers flying overseas often wonder if the rules are different beyond India. While policies can vary slightly between airlines, the general global stance is similar. A power bank allowed in international flights must only be carried in cabin baggage and must remain unused throughout the journey.
International aviation bodies like the ICAO and FAA also caution against lithium battery usage mid-flight. In fact, batteries and power banks must be individually packed and switched off for the entire duration of travel.
7. What Are the Growing Safety Concerns Around Rising Device Usage in Flights?
Modern travellers carry multiple electronic devices, increasing the number of batteries on a plane on every flight. As gadget dependency grows, so does the cumulative fire risk.
By restricting usage rather than banning power banks entirely, airlines aim to strike a balance between passenger needs and safety measures.
Final Thoughts: Safety Before Convenience
Aviation safety rules evolve with technology and emerging risks. Power banks are useful travel companions, but in the unique environment of an aircraft, caution is essential. The DGCA’s restrictions are rooted in global best practices and real-world safety data.
The next time you’re asked to put your power bank away, remember—it’s a small step that helps ensure every flight remains safe from take-off to landing.
&w=3840&q=75)
&w=256&q=75)
