Airlines tighten rules for carrying power banks on board.

      May 8, 2026 12:23 Society The airline "Aeroflot" was the first to introduce new rules for transporting power banks and other devices with lithium batteries. Now passengers can take no more than two external batteries with them into the aircraft cabin, which must be in their original packaging and placed under the seat in front of them or in a special pocket on the back of the seat.

      New rules for transporting devices

      Charging power banks on board the aircraft is strictly prohibited at all stages of the flight, as soon as the aircraft begins to move. This decision was made due to the increasing number of cases of fire and smoke from gadgets in aircraft cabins, which led to emergency landings and returns to airports.

      The new restrictions apply not only to power banks but also to other devices with lithium-ion batteries. There are specific norms for transporting them on the aircraft: the lithium content in the batteries must not exceed 2 grams, and the specific power must be 100 watt-hours. Devices with batteries that have a specific power of 100 to 160 watt-hours or a lithium content of 2 to 8 grams are allowed to be transported only with the airline's permission.

      Power banks and batteries that exceed the established norms are considered dangerous and are transported through the airport's cargo terminals. This is due to the risk of fire, which can lead to serious consequences.

      Aircraft crews have undergone special training in extinguishing battery fires, and all aircraft are equipped with the necessary equipment for this.

      Why airlines are tightening rules for transporting power banks

      The editor-in-chief of the Avia.ru portal, Roman Gusаров, noted in a comment to 360.ru that the problem of battery fires has been known for a long time, and previously airlines addressed it at the level of their own rules. However, after the release of the new ICAO technical regulation, mandatory for all carriers, "Aeroflot" was forced to tighten its rules.

      The expert emphasized that lithium power banks, due to their large capacity, can easily ignite. If this happens in the cargo hold, it can cause a fire with serious consequences. If the battery ignites in the cabin, the crew will be able to quickly extinguish it with special means.

      The expert also noted that the new restrictions apply to all electronic devices that must be transferred to carry-on luggage. This is because the cargo hold contains the belongings of other passengers, which can contribute to the rapid spread of fire.

      Roman Gusаров added that passengers will have to get used to the new rules, just as they did with the introduction of the ban on carrying liquids over 100 ml. People simply started buying small containers for necessary liquids. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+