Power Bank Rules by Airline (2026): 33 Airlines Compared
Every airline has its own power bank rule now, and they no longer match. One lets you charge your phone from the bank. The next bans using it at all. A few allow only one bank. The only constant is that a power bank goes in your carry-on, never in the checked bag.
Below are 33 airlines in one searchable table. Each row has what the airline allows in flight, how many banks and how big, where the bank has to sit, and a link to the airline’s own page. If the airline is not on the list, our power bank guide covers the general rules, and United and Southwest are covered there.
33
airlines in the table, each with an official source
23
ban using or charging the bank in flight
3
allow only one power bank per passenger
100 Wh
the cap at most airlines; some accept 160 Wh
🔋 Power bank rules by airline: the full table
Type an airline in the box. “Use in flight” is the column that changed most in the last two years. Dates are when the airline’s rule started, where it published one.
| Airline | Use in flight | How many, how big | Where to keep it | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| Lufthansa Group | 🚫 BannedNo use and no charging on board. From 15 Jan 2026. | Max 2 banks. Up to 100 Wh; 100 to 160 Wh needs airline approval. | Seat pocket, on you, or in a bag under the seat. Not in the overhead bin. | Lufthansa Group |
| KLM | 🚫 BannedUsing or charging a power bank on board is not allowed. | Up to 2 banks. 100 Wh or less; the Wh rating must be visible. | With you. Not in the overhead bin. | KLM |
| Air France | 🚫 BannedUsing or charging a power bank on board is prohibited. | Up to 160 Wh. For 100 to 160 Wh, max 2 and approval before the trip. | Under your supervision and within reach. Not in overhead bins. | Air France |
| British Airways | ✅ Not bannedNo in-flight ban in the rule we found. Seat power is for devices only, not for charging a power bank. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less; the capacity must be shown on the bank. | Seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front. | British Airways |
| Ryanair | ⚠️ LimitedYou may charge a device from the bank, except during taxi, take-off and landing. The bank itself cannot be recharged on board. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | On you or in a bag under the seat. Not in the overhead lockers. | Ryanair |
| easyJet | 🚫 BannedUse is prohibited. The bank must not charge other devices. | Max 2 banks, up to 160 Wh. | In your carry-on, ideally on your person where you can watch it. | easyJet |
| SAS | 🚫 BannedPower banks may not be used or charged on board. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | Under the seat in front. Not in the overhead bin. | SAS |
| Aer Lingus | 🚫 BannedNeither used nor charged during the flight. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | On you or in the seat area where you can see it. Not overhead. | Aer Lingus |
| Wizz Air | 🚫 BannedNo use in any phase of flight, and no charging. | Only 1 power bank, 100 Wh or less. | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket. | Wizz Air |
| Pegasus | ✅ Not bannedAllowed during the flight if you follow the crew’s instructions (per its published rules). | 100 Wh or less. Up to 20 spare batteries in total. | Carry-on only, each one protected against short circuit. | Pegasus |
| Icelandair | ❓ Not publishedNo in-flight use rule published in the pages we found. | 100 Wh or less. Up to 20 spare batteries in total. | Carry-on only, each one protected against short circuit. | Icelandair |
| Turkish Airlines | 🚫 BannedCannot be charged at any stage, and cannot charge other devices. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket. Not overhead. | Turkish Airlines |
| Middle East | ||||
| Emirates | 🚫 BannedNo use of any power bank on board, and no charging it from the aircraft. From 1 Oct 2025. | Only 1 power bank, 100 Wh or less, with the Wh rating clearly visible. | Seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front. Not in the overhead bin. | Emirates |
| Etihad | 🚫 BannedUse is strictly prohibited, including charging devices or the bank from aircraft sockets. | Only 1 power bank, 100 Wh or less, with the Wh rating marked on it. | Under the seat or in the seat pocket. Avoid the overhead locker. | Etihad |
| Qatar Airways | ⚠️ LimitedThe bank cannot be charged in any phase. In non-critical phases it can charge a device if it stays in your direct sight and is not stowed. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | Cabin only, in sight while in use. | Qatar Airways |
| Asia | ||||
| Singapore Airlines | 🚫 BannedNo charging the bank from seat power or USB, and no charging devices from it. From 15 Apr 2026. | Max 2 banks. Up to 100 Wh; 100 to 160 Wh needs approval. | Seat pocket or under the seat in front. Not in the overhead bins. | Singapore Airlines |
| Scoot | 🚫 BannedNo charging the bank on board and no using it to charge devices for the whole flight. From 1 Apr 2025. | Max 2 banks. Up to 100 Wh; 100 to 160 Wh needs approval. | Cabin baggage, not in the overhead compartments. | Scoot |
| Cathay Pacific | 🚫 BannedNo charging devices from the bank and no charging the bank from seat power, at any point. From 7 Apr 2025. | Max 2 banks, under 100 Wh. | Under the seat in front. Never in the overhead compartments. | Cathay Pacific |
| Thai Airways | 🚫 BannedUse of power banks on board is prohibited. From 15 Mar 2025. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | Carry-on only. | Thai Airways |
| EVA Air | 🚫 BannedUse and charging of power banks are prohibited throughout the flight. From 1 Mar 2025. | Max 2 banks from 31 Mar 2026. Up to 100 Wh; two of 100 to 160 Wh with approval. | Under the seat in front. Not in the shared overhead bins. | EVA Air |
| Korean Air | 🚫 BannedOnboard use and charging banned. The ban also covers Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul. Hanjin group rule. | Max 2 banks, up to 160 Wh. | Within reach, seat pocket or under the seat. Not overhead. | Korean Air |
| AirAsia | 🚫 BannedUsing or charging power banks is prohibited at all times. From 1 Apr 2025. | Max 2 banks. Up to 100 Wh; 100 to 160 Wh needs approval at check-in. | Seat pocket or under the seat. Not in the overhead compartment. | AirAsia |
| ANA | ⚠️ LimitedNo charging the bank from the seat outlet. Passengers are asked to refrain from using it to charge other devices. From 24 Apr 2026. | Max 2 banks, 160 Wh or less. | In your hand or the seat pocket. Overhead is discouraged. | ANA |
| Japan Airlines | 🚫 BannedNo charging the bank from seat power and no using it to charge other devices. From 24 Apr 2026. | Max 2 banks, 160 Wh or less. JAL says the limit may drop to 100 Wh from Jan 2027. | With you or in the seat pocket. Avoid the overhead compartments. | Japan Airlines |
| Air China | 🚫 BannedNo charging the bank from aircraft power and no using it to charge other devices. | Banks must carry the China 3C mark on domestic China flights (from 28 Jun 2025). | Under the seat in front or in the seat pocket. Not overhead. | Air China |
| Oceania | ||||
| Qantas group | 🚫 BannedNo use and no charging, including via in-seat power or USB. From 15 Dec 2025. | Max 2 banks, up to 160 Wh each. | With you, seat pocket or under the seat in front. | Qantas |
| Virgin Australia | 🚫 BannedThe bank cannot be used to charge another device or be charged on board. Devices may use seat power outside take-off and landing. | Max 2 banks, up to 160 Wh each. | Seat pocket, under the seat in front, or in your hands. | Virgin Australia |
| Air New Zealand | ⚠️ LimitedThe bank cannot be recharged on board, and cannot power devices during taxi, take-off and landing. | Up to 2 banks of 100 Wh each, inside the 20 loose battery limit. | Under the seat, in the seat pocket or on you. Not in overhead lockers. | Air New Zealand |
| Americas | ||||
| American Airlines | ✅ Not bannedNo ban in the rule we found. Keep the bank in view while in use and never charge it from seat power. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less each. | Under the seat or in the seatback pocket. Not in overhead bins. | American Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | ⚠️ LimitedNot to be recharged on board, and not used to charge a device during taxi, take-off or landing. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh each with no exceptions. | Under the seat in front or in the seatback pocket. Not overhead. | Delta |
| JetBlue | 🚫 BannedNot charged from seat power, and not used to charge or power other devices in flight. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh or less. | Under the seat. Not in overhead compartments or checked bags. | JetBlue |
| Air Canada | ❓ Not publishedNo in-flight use rule published in the pages we found. | Up to 20 spare batteries, of which max 2 in the 100 to 160 Wh range. Three Anker models are prohibited. | Carry-on baggage only. | Air Canada |
| LATAM | 🚫 BannedCannot be plugged into aircraft outlets and cannot power any device in flight. | Max 2 banks, 100 Wh each. | In your personal item under the seat. Never in the overhead bin. | LATAM |
No airline matches that search. Check the airline’s own page before you fly.
Rules move fast. Airlines have tightened power bank rules several times since January 2025. We checked each airline’s own page in October 2026. Rows marked “Not published” mean we could not find an in-flight use rule on the airline’s page, which is not the same as the use being allowed. Ask the airline.
🚫 Which airlines ban power bank use in flight?
23 of the 33 airlines in the table ban using or charging a power bank in flight. The bans cluster by region. Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Thai, EVA Air, Korean Air and Japan Airlines ban it in Asia and the Middle East. So do Lufthansa Group, KLM, Air France, SAS and Aer Lingus in Europe, and Qantas and Virgin Australia in Oceania.
The ban usually means two things at once: you cannot charge the bank from the seat power or USB port, and you cannot use it to charge your phone or laptop. If you need power in the air, charge the device from the in-seat outlet or USB port where the seat has one.
✅ Which airlines still allow you to use a power bank?
A few airlines in the table do not ban use outright. They set limits on when and how.
1
Ryanair and Delta: you can charge a device from the bank, but not during taxi, take-off or landing. Neither lets you recharge the bank itself on board.
2
Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand: use is limited to some phases of flight and the bank cannot be recharged on board.
3
British Airways, American Airlines and Pegasus: we found no in-flight ban in the rule we read. BA and American say not to charge the bank from seat power.
4
ANA: it asks passengers to refrain from charging other devices from the bank, and bans charging the bank from the seat outlet.
Do not treat this list as permanent. Airlines in this group have been the ones moving toward a ban, so check the airline’s page again close to your flight date.
☝️ Which airlines allow only one power bank?
Most airlines allow two power banks per passenger. Emirates, Etihad and Wizz Air allow only one, each up to 100 Wh. If you travel with a phone bank and a laptop bank, one of them stays at home or goes in the airline’s other approved storage.
🔌 Which airlines accept power banks up to 160 Wh?
The common cap is 100 Wh, about a 27,000 mAh bank. Some airlines let bigger banks on board with limits:
Up to 160 Wh, max 2: easyJet, Korean Air, ANA, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia
100 to 160 Wh with airline approval: Lufthansa Group, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, EVA Air, AirAsia
100 Wh or less only: KLM, British Airways, Ryanair, SAS, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, Pegasus, Icelandair, Turkish, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Thai, Cathay, Air New Zealand, LATAM, JetBlue, Delta, American
Different rule: Air Canada allows max 2 banks in the 100 to 160 Wh range, and Air China requires the 3C mark on domestic China flights
To check your own bank, the formula is Wh = mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1000. A 20,000 mAh bank is 74 Wh. Japan Airlines has warned its 160 Wh limit may drop to 100 Wh from January 2027, so a big bank that flies today may not next year.
Before you fly — checklist
1
Power banks go in the carry-on bag, never in the checked bag.
2
Check the Wh label. No visible rating can mean the bank is refused.
3
Count your banks. Two is the usual limit. Emirates, Etihad and Wizz Air allow one.
4
Keep it in the seat pocket or under the seat in front, never in the overhead bin.
5
Assume you cannot use it in flight. Charge your devices before boarding and use the seat power instead.
6
Connecting flights or partner airlines? The strictest airline on your ticket sets the rule for that leg.
7
Bringing a vape or e-cigarette too? See vape rules by country, since its battery follows similar rules.
Airline policies change often and each airline has the final word, so confirm the current rule on the airline’s own page before you travel. Dates and limits shown are from the airline sources linked in the table, checked October 2026.