Power banks used to be your flight’s MVP – juicing up your phone mid-air while you watched your 47th TikTok. But in 2025, airlines have had enough. Following fires, near-misses, and a growing fear of lithium-ion batteries doing the cha-cha in the skies, carriers across Asia are clamping down hard.
If you’ve got a chunky Anker in your backpack, here’s what you need to know – before cabin crew stare at you like you’re smuggling fireworks.
In This Post
Who’s Grounding the Juice?
Air Busan (South Korea)
After a mid-air fire scare on January 28, 2025 – suspected to be caused by a power bank stored in an overhead bin – Air Busan updated its policy:
- ❌ No power banks in overhead lockers
- ✅ Must be kept on your person
- 🔌 Charging onboard? Forget it
Singapore Airlines
From April 1, 2025:
- ❌ No using or charging power banks in-flight
- ✅ Can still carry them in your hand luggage
Fancy Changi Terminal 3, but grounded gadgets onboard.
Thai Airways
As of March 15, 2025:
- ❌ Charging or using power banks is a no-go
- ✅ Bringing one onboard is fine; using it isn’t
Spicy food? Yes. Spicy batteries? No thanks.
Air Astana (Kazakhstan)
March 13, 2025:
- ❌ Use and charging banned onboard
- ✅ Carry-on only
The only sparks in the sky should come from the sunset, not your battery pack.
Cathay Pacific & Hong Kong Airlines
From April 7, 2025:
- ❌ Power banks must be kept in your bag under the seat
- ❌ No storing in overhead lockers
- ❌ No charging from or to the power bank during the flight
Basically, if your power bank even thinks about powering something mid-flight, it’s game over.
EVA Air & China Airlines (Taiwan)
Since March 1, 2025:
- ❌ Use and charging banned mid-flight
- ✅ Still allowed in hand luggage
Don’t let that glowing battery icon tempt you – it’s off-limits.
AirAsia
March 15, 2025:
- ❌ Charging or using power banks is banned
- ✅ Carry them? Yes. Use them? No.
No frills, no thrills — and definitely no kilowatts.
Korean Air & Asiana Airlines
From March 1, 2025:
- ❌ No power banks in overhead compartments
- ✅ Must be kept on you at all times
- ❌ Charging onboard is off-limits
They’re following Air Busan’s lead — safety first.
Starlux Airlines & Tigerair Taiwan
The old policy, still enforced:
- ❌ Strict ban on using or charging power banks
- ✅ Carry-on only; usage prohibited
Basically, your power bank goes on a flight-long nap.
Why All the Fuss?
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat, ignite, and, yes – explode. It’s rare, but when it happens at 38,000 feet, “rare” feels way too familiar. Most airlines are responding to incidents and fire safety recommendations from aviation regulators.
What Should You Do?
- ✅ Keep it small: Most airlines only allow power banks under 100Wh without pre-approval
- ✅ Keep it close: Always in your carry-on or on your person, not in the hold or overhead
- ❌ Don’t charge mid-flight unless your airline clearly says it’s okay
- ✅ Check your airline’s rules before you fly – especially if you’re hopping between multiple Asian carriers
Final Boarding Call
This isn’t a total power blackout – just a clampdown on in-flight Charging and unsafe storage. Your battery pack can still come on holiday; it just has to behave. And with how things are going, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few Western airlines follow suit soon.
