Overview
- Japan’s transport ministry will cap travelers at two power banks per person with a 160 Wh limit, ban charging during flights, require the batteries to be kept within reach, and attach penalties of up to two years in prison or ¥1 million in fines.
- Southwest Airlines will allow only one portable charger per passenger, bar storage in overhead bins, forbid recharging from seat power, and emphasize passenger education over bag searches or confiscation, according to its safety chief.
- The UN’s aviation body ICAO has advised airlines to limit each traveler to two power banks and to prohibit in‑flight recharging, which is now guiding airline and national policies.
- FAA data show 97 lithium battery incidents on aircraft in 2025 and more this year, with many tied to portable chargers that can overheat in a thermal runaway and produce fires and toxic smoke that are hard to put out in a cabin.
- Several major carriers already restrict power banks in similar ways, and existing rules keep spare batteries out of checked bags and typically cap capacity at 100 Wh unless an airline approves up to 160 Wh, so passengers should plan to keep any pack small, visible, and at their seat.