Several airlines have banned the use and charging of power banks during flights. This applies to Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, China Airlines, EVA Air, and all South Korea-owned carriers.
For Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot, the new rules will apply starting on April 1, 2025.
With the policy, passengers are strictly prohibited from using power banks to charge devices or plugging them into onboard USB ports. Power banks must also be carried in the cabin baggage. They are not permitted in checked-in luggage.
When it comes to capacity limits, power banks with up to 100 watt-hours (Wh) are allowed on board without prior approval. Those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline consent, while anything above 160Wh is strictly banned. This typically encompasses power banks with a capacity range of 20,000mAh to 27,000mAh.
In the Philippines, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has also enforced similar regulations. Power banks of more than 160Wh are no longer allowed on domestic and international flights. Additionally, power banks carried in hand luggage must be within the 100Wh limit.
This decision comes after an incident where an overheating power bank caused a fire on an Air Busan flight to Hong Kong last January. Authorities suspect the fire was caused by a malfunctioning electronic device or power bank.
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