Airlines across the world are tightening safety rules around portable batteries after a series of dangerous onboard fires, and Germany’s Lufthansa is now setting the standard in Europe with new restrictions for passengers.
The move follows a high-profile incident on a South Korean Air Busan flight earlier this year, where a power bank ignited inside an overhead compartment, injuring dozens and destroying the aircraft.
Lufthansa Rolls Out Stricter Battery Rules
Lufthansa has updated its onboard safety policy to limit how power banks and battery packs can be used during flights. With immediate effect, passengers are no longer allowed to charge devices using power banks while onboard, nor can they plug batteries into seatback entertainment systems.
The airline confirmed that power banks are still allowed in cabin baggage, but the long-standing ban on placing them in checked luggage remains firmly in place. In addition, passengers may no longer store power banks in overhead bins. Instead, the devices must be kept on their person or placed in hand luggage under the seat.
Passengers are advised to fully charge their phones and tablets before boarding or rely on the aircraft’s built-in USB charging ports.
Limits on Size, Quantity and Approval
Under the revised rules, power banks are capped at a maximum capacity of 100 watt hours, equivalent to about 27,000 milliampere-hours. Travelers who wish to bring larger battery packs must seek approval from the airline in advance.
Failure to declare oversized batteries could result in the devices being confiscated and destroyed. Lufthansa has also limited passengers to carrying no more than two power banks per flight.
The airline says the policy changes are based on updated safety guidance from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and apply across all Lufthansa-operated and affiliated airlines, including Swiss, Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss, Discover and Air Dolomiti.
A Fire That Changed Aviation Thinking
Airlines’ growing caution stems largely from the January 2025 Air Busan incident, when a power bank stored in an overhead compartment caught fire while the Airbus A321 was still on the ground. Investigators later confirmed the battery as the cause of the blaze.
The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the aircraft’s fuselage within minutes. Twenty-seven people were injured, though all passengers were able to evacuate using emergency slides.
The incident has prompted aviation safety authorities worldwide to re-examine how lithium batteries are handled onboard, with many expecting further restrictions as airlines work to reduce the risk of similar fires in the future.
