On almost every airline in 2026, you can bring up to two power banks of 100 Wh or less (about 26,000 mAh or smaller) in your carry-on, never in checked bags, and you may not recharge them on board. That is the global rule from ICAO, the UN aviation agency, in force since 27 March 2026.
Many airlines go further. Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Southwest and WestJet allow only one power bank, and most Asian airlines, the Lufthansa Group and Finnair ban using one to charge your phone in flight. Most also ban the overhead bin: keep the bank in the seat pocket, under the seat or on you.
If your trip crosses New Year, there is one more catch. From 1 January 2027, power banks over 100 Wh are expected to be refused everywhere, so a big bank that flies out in December may be taken from you on the way home.
The airline-by-airline list below shows what each carrier adds. Rules are changing fast, so check your airline’s own page in the 48 hours before you fly.
What changed in 2026 (and what changes on 1 January 2027)
Since 27 March 2026, ICAO’s rules cap every passenger at two power banks and ban recharging them on board. Using a bank to charge your phone is only discouraged by ICAO, not banned, but many airlines and countries have banned it outright (ICAO; UK CAA).
The size limits stayed the same for 2026:
- Up to 100 Wh: allowed without approval.
- 100–160 Wh: only with the airline’s approval, and many airlines no longer give it.
- Over 160 Wh: forbidden for passengers.
- Always: carry-on only, never checked, with the terminals protected against short circuits.
The change followed a run of cabin fires. An Air Busan A321 burned at Busan in January 2025 after a fire linked to a power bank in an overhead bin, and an Air China flight had a locker battery fire in October 2025. The FAA logged nearly 100 lithium battery incidents on US flights in 2025.
The 1 January 2027 cutoff
IATA’s guidance says the 100–160 Wh allowance for power banks will not be carried into its 68th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, which takes effect on 1 January 2027. JAL has also warned that Japan’s limit may fall to 100 Wh from January 2027.
This is the trap for holiday travel. Picture a Doha–Tokyo trip out on 22 December and back on 3 January. An approved 130 Wh bank could clear security on the way out and be confiscated on the way back. The simple fix: only pack power banks of 100 Wh or less this season.
How to check your power bank’s watt-hours (Wh)
Look for a Wh figure printed on the bank first; if there is only mAh, multiply mAh by 3.7 and divide by 1,000. Use the cell voltage (usually 3.6–3.7 V), not the 5 V USB output.
\text{Wh} = \frac{\text{mAh} \times 3.7}{1000}For example, a 20,000 mAh bank is 20,000 × 3.7 ÷ 1,000 = 74 Wh, well under the limit.
| Printed capacity | Wh (at 3.7 V) | Holiday 2026 | From 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Allowed | Allowed |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Allowed | Allowed |
| 26,800 mAh | 99.2 Wh | Allowed, at the limit; label must be legible | Allowed if 100 Wh or less |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Needs approval where still offered; refused by Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Copa, LATAM | Expected to be refused |
| 40,000 mAh | 148 Wh | As above | Expected to be refused |
| 45,000+ mAh | about 167 Wh | Forbidden | Forbidden |
If the label is worn off and no Wh or mAh figure can be read, expect security to refuse the bank.
Middle East and Africa: airline-by-airline power bank rules
Qatar Airways allows two power banks of up to 100 Wh each; the UAE’s Emirates, flydubai and Etihad allow only one and ban using it. In the tables, “Confirmed” means we read the airline’s or regulator’s own page; “News” means news reports or travel guides only; “Baseline” means no airline-specific rule was found, so the ICAO rule applies.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways’ travel alert (updated 20 June 2026) follows a Qatar Civil Aviation Authority rule announced around 17 June 2026:
- Maximum two power banks per passenger, each 100 Wh or less.
- Cabin baggage only, with terminals protected.
- No recharging the power bank in flight.
- Keep it within easy reach, not in the overhead or side lockers.
Can you charge your phone from a power bank on Qatar Airways? The alert doesn’t say clearly. One travel guide reads it as allowed if the bank stays in plain sight, but that isn’t confirmed by the airline. Plug your phone into the seat outlet instead, and ask the crew before using a bank. The QCAA rule also applies to every airline departing Hamad International Airport.
Gulf, Türkiye and Africa at a glance
| Airline | Max Wh | Max banks | Use in flight | Overhead bin | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways | 100 | 2 | Unclear; use seat power | No | Jun 2026 | Confirmed |
| Emirates | 100 | 1 | No | No; rating must be visible | 1 Oct 2025 | News |
| flydubai | 100 | 1 | No | No | 1 Oct 2025 | News |
| Etihad | 100 | 1 | No | No | By Aug 2025 | News |
| Air Arabia | 100 | 2 (ICAO) | No | No | Not found | News |
| Oman Air | Not stated | 2 (ICAO) | No; unlabelled banks refused | No | Nov 2025 | News |
| Saudia, flynas, flyadeal, Riyadh Air | 100 (baseline) | 2 (GACA) | Discouraged | Not stated | May 2026 | News (Saudi regulator) |
| Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Royal Jordanian | 100 | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | — | Baseline |
| Turkish Airlines | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No | No | Apr 2026 | News |
| Pegasus, AJet | Not stated | 2 | No | Not stated | Aug 2025 | News |
| EgyptAir | 100 | 1 | No | Not stated | Not found | News |
| Ethiopian | 160 (approval above 100) | 2 | No | No | Not found | News |
| RwandAir | Not stated | Not stated | No | Not stated | Not found | News |
| South African Airways | 100 | Not stated | Cruise only | No | Not found | News |
| Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc | 100 | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | — | Baseline |
Asia-Pacific: airline-by-airline power bank rules
Almost every Asia-Pacific airline bans using a power bank in flight, and all cap you at two. Air New Zealand is the main exception: it bans use only during taxi, take-off and landing. Some airports enforce the cap at security: Hong Kong confiscates a third bank at screening, and Singapore’s check-in staff check the count.
| Airline | Max Wh | Max banks | Use in flight | Overhead bin | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines, Scoot | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No | Not stated | Cap 15 Apr 2026 | News |
| Cathay Pacific | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No | Not stated | Mar 2026 | Confirmed |
| HK Express | Not verified | 2 | No | Not stated | Mar 2026 | News |
| Japan Airlines, ANA, Peach | 160 (may fall to 100 in 2027) | 2 | No | Not stated | 24 Apr 2026 | Confirmed (JAL, Peach); News (ANA) |
| Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Air Busan, Jeju Air, T’way | 160 (approval above 100) | 2 | No | No; tape terminals or use a bag | Apr 2026 | News |
| Starlux | Not stated | 2 | No | No | 1 Apr 2026 | Confirmed |
| EVA Air, China Airlines | Not verified | 2 | No | Not stated | Apr 2026 | News |
| Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan | 100; 3C mark required | 2 | Switched off on some | No | Jun 2025 | News |
| Thai Airways | Not verified | 2 | No | Not stated | Mar 2026 | News |
| Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia | 100 | Reported as 1 | No | No; capacity must be visible | 2025 | News |
| Philippine Airlines | 100 only | 2 | Not stated | No; label required | 17 Apr 2026 | News |
| Vietnam Airlines, VietJet | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No; keep it visible | Not stated | 1 Jul 2026 | News |
| Air India, IndiGo | 100 | Not stated | No | Not stated | Jan 2026 | News |
| Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia | Not verified | 2 | No | No | Dec 2025 | News |
| Air New Zealand | Not stated | 2 | Cruise only | No | 9 Dec 2025 | News |
| Garuda Indonesia | — | — | — | — | — | No source found |
Flying through mainland China? Since 28 June 2025, power banks without a visible 3C (CCC) certification mark, and recalled models, are confiscated. Sources disagree on whether this covers only domestic flights, so carry a 3C-marked bank on any China routing.
Europe: airline-by-airline power bank rules
In Europe, only the Lufthansa Group and Finnair ban using a power bank in flight; British Airways allows use but bans recharging from seat power. The EU’s safety agency, EASA, issued recommendations in 2025 rather than a ban, so most other European airlines simply follow the ICAO two-bank, no-recharge rule.
| Airline | Max Wh | Max banks | Use in flight | Overhead bin | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, Eurowings, Discover, ITA | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No | No | 15 Jan 2026 | News |
| Finnair | 100 (160 with prior approval) | 2 | No (news) | No | 24 Jun 2026 | Confirmed (count, storage); News (use ban) |
| British Airways | 100; rating must show | 2 (max 4 spare batteries) | Allowed | No; remove if your bag is gate-checked | May 2026 | News |
| Air France, KLM | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | Allowed per guides | Not stated | — | News |
| Ryanair, easyJet | 100 | 2 | Allowed per guides | Not stated | — | News |
| Wizz Air, Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian, SAS | 100 | 2 | Guides disagree; don’t use | Not stated | — | Unverified |
| Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, TAP, LOT, Aegean, Icelandair | 100 | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | — | Baseline |
The UK Civil Aviation Authority still allows 100–160 Wh banks with airline approval in 2026 (UK CAA), but that route is expected to close on 1 January 2027.
Americas: airline-by-airline power bank rules
US airlines mostly allow you to use a power bank in flight if it stays visible, but Southwest and WestJet allow only one bank, and American bans the overhead bin. No new FAA rule was found for 2026; the changes are airline policies. In Latin America, LATAM, GOL and Volaris ban use outright.
| Airline | Max Wh | Max banks | Use in flight | Overhead bin | Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American | 100 | 2 | Allowed if visible and within reach | No | 1 May 2026 | Confirmed (via news) |
| Delta | 100 (sources conflict on 160) | 2 | Not during taxi, take-off, landing | Strongly discouraged | 1 May 2026 | Confirmed (via news) |
| United | 100 (160 with approval) | Not stated | Not stated | Under the seat advised | Mar 2026 | News |
| Southwest | 100 | 1 | Only if visible, not in a bag | No | 20 Apr 2026 | News |
| Alaska/Hawaiian, JetBlue, Frontier, Allegiant | 100 (160 with approval) | Baseline | Not stated | Not stated | — | Baseline |
| Air Canada | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | Not stated | Not stated | — | Baseline; recalled Anker and Zolo models banned |
| WestJet | Not stated | 1 | Not when seat power is available | No | 19 Mar 2026 | Confirmed (via 3rd party) |
| Copa | 100 only | 2 | Cruise only | No | Nov 2025 | Confirmed |
| Volaris | 100 | 2 | No | Not stated | 2026 | Confirmed (via 3rd party) |
| Avianca | Page conflicts (10 vs 100 Wh) | 2 | No | Not stated | Mar 2026 | Conflicting; ask the airline |
| LATAM | 100 only | 2 | No | No | May 2026 | News |
| GOL | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | No | Not stated | 4 May 2026 | News |
| Azul | 100 (160 with approval) | 2 | Discouraged | Not stated | May 2026 | News |
| Spirit, Porter, Aeroméxico | — | — | — | — | — | No source found |
How to fly with a power bank: a 10-step checklist
Pack one or two banks of 100 Wh or less in your carry-on, keep them out of the overhead bin, and charge your phone from the seat outlet. That clears nearly every airline in this list. The full checklist:
- Check the Wh rating. Use the printed Wh, or mAh × 3.7 ÷ 1,000. Keep only banks of 100 Wh or less.
- Count your banks. Two maximum, or one on Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, EgyptAir, Southwest, WestJet and the Malaysian airlines.
- Check the label. The capacity must be legible. Add a 3C mark for any China routing. Leave damaged, swollen or recalled banks at home.
- Pack in your carry-on only. Put each bank in its own pouch or tape the terminals. If your cabin bag is gate-checked, take the banks out first.
- Store it near you on board. Seat pocket, under the seat or on your person, never in the overhead or side lockers.
- Never plug a power bank into the seat USB or socket. Recharging on board is banned worldwide.
- Charge your phone from the seat outlet. Use a bank only where the airline allows it, and keep it in sight.
- Crossing New Year? Assume any bank over 100 Wh will be refused on the return flight after 1 January 2027.
- Charge everything before you board. You can’t top up the bank in flight.
- Re-check within 48 hours of departure. Check the operating airline, not just the one you booked with, and the rules of the country you depart from.
Power bank flight rules: frequently asked questions
Can I bring a 20,000 mAh power bank on a plane?
Yes. A 20,000 mAh bank is about 74 Wh, under the 100 Wh limit, so every airline in this list accepts it in your carry-on. You still can’t put it in checked baggage or recharge it on board.
How many power banks can I take on a plane in 2026?
Two on most airlines, under the ICAO rule in force since 27 March 2026. Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, EgyptAir, Southwest and WestJet allow only one.
Can I put a power bank in checked luggage?
No. Power banks must travel in the cabin on every airline, because a fire in the hold can’t be reached by the crew. If your cabin bag is taken at the gate, remove the banks first.
Can I use a power bank to charge my phone during the flight?
It depends on the airline. It’s banned on Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, the Lufthansa Group, Finnair, most Asian airlines and on flights from India. American, British Airways and some others allow it if the bank stays visible. Qatar Airways’ wording is unclear, so use the seat outlet.
Can I charge my power bank from the seat outlet?
No. Recharging power banks on board has been banned worldwide since 27 March 2026.
Why can’t power banks go in the overhead bin?
Crew can’t see or quickly reach a battery fire inside a closed locker. That’s why Qatar Airways, the UAE airlines, the Lufthansa Group, British Airways, American and Korean airlines all require the bank in the seat pocket, under the seat or on you.
Will my 30,000 mAh power bank be allowed in 2027?
Probably not. At about 111 Wh it’s over 100 Wh, and IATA plans to drop the 100–160 Wh allowance for power banks from 1 January 2027.
How we checked these rules
This list was checked on 10 November 2026 against regulator documents, airline pages and news reports. We read official pages for ICAO, IATA, the UK CAA, Singapore’s CAAS, Hong Kong, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Starlux, JAL, Peach and Finnair. Most other rows rely on news reports or travel guides and are marked “News”. Where sources disagreed, we list the stricter rule. Airlines change these policies often, so treat your airline’s own page as the final word.
Hi, I’m Bruno. I’ve worked in the aviation industry for over 6 years as a B1.1 Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. This blog is where I share insights on aviation and travel globally.