Emirates to ban use of power banks on its flights

Dubai - Emirates has said that using any kind of power bank is prohibited onboard its flights, effective from October 1, 2025.
A power bank is a portable, rechargeable device primarily designed to provide power to other electronic devices, such as smart smartphones, tablets, laptops, and cameras.
Emirates customers will be permitted to carry one power bank onboard with specific conditions listed below, but the power banks may not be used while in the aircraft cabin – neither to charge devices from the power bank, nor to be charged themselves using the aircraft’s power source. 

Emirates’ new regulations include:        

• Customers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours.
• Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard.
• Charging a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply is not permitted.
• All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available.
• Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front of you.
• Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule).

Emirates said that there has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents on board flights across the aviation industry.

Power banks primarily utilize lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, and their function is as a portable battery pack designed to recharge devices on the go.
The batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. The ions flow through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges. If the battery is overcharged or damaged, it may result in ‘thermal runaway.’
Thermal runaway in batteries is a self-accelerating process where heat generation within a battery cell exceeds its ability to dissipate heat, leading to a rapid and uncontrollable temperature increase. 
This can result in dangerous consequences like fire, explosions, and the release of toxic gases. 

Most phones and sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal trickle system that slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging, but many basic power banks may not have this safeguard, increasing the risk.