Airlines are stepping up safety measures for portable batteries after a fire on a South Korean Air Busan flight in January 2025. Germany’s Lufthansa is leading the way in Europe with new restrictions aimed at preventing similar dangers.
Stricter Guidelines for In-Flight Use
Passengers on Lufthansa flights are no longer allowed to use power banks to charge devices during the flight or connect them to seatback infotainment systems. While the batteries remain permitted in cabin luggage, storing them in overhead compartments is now banned. Travelers must carry power banks on their person or keep them in hand luggage under the seat.
Limits on Battery Size and Quantity
Lufthansa has capped power banks at 100 watt hours (approximately 27,000 mAh). Travelers wishing to carry larger batteries must notify the airline in advance and gain approval, or risk confiscation and destruction. Each passenger is limited to two power banks per flight. The new rules apply to all Lufthansa-operated flights as well as affiliated carriers, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Discover, and Air Dolomiti.
A Fire That Sparked Global Safety Reviews
The policy change follows a serious incident in which a power bank ignited in an overhead compartment of an Air Busan Airbus A321, injuring 27 people. The fire spread rapidly across the aircraft fuselage, but all passengers evacuated safely using emergency slides.
The incident has prompted aviation authorities worldwide to review safety procedures for lithium batteries, with airlines now adopting stricter rules to reduce the risk of onboard fires.
