What Changed in 2026? New Restrictions
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Rules around power banks on aircraft have been tightening year by year. In January 2026, Lufthansa Group — which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings — introduced a ban on using power banks during flight. External batteries may still be carried in hand luggage, but they may not be connected to charge devices during the flight.
This change follows a growing number of incidents involving lithium batteries on board aircraft. According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), 2025 saw a record number of events involving lithium batteries — including cases of smoking and ignition of power banks during charging.
Other airlines have not yet gone this far, but the trend is clear: regulations will continue to tighten. For travellers, this means checking the rules of your specific airline before every trip.
Basic rules that apply on all airlines:
- Power banks must be carried in hand luggage (cabin bag).
- They must never be placed in checked hold luggage.
- Capacity must not exceed 100 Wh (watt-hours) without airline approval.
- Capacity between 100–160 Wh requires airline approval.
- Capacity above 160 Wh is categorically prohibited.
Table: Which Airlines Prohibit Using or Charging Power Banks?
Status as of February 2026:
| Airline | Carry in cabin | Use during flight | Charge devices from power bank | Charge power bank from socket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa / Swiss / Austrian / Eurowings | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Banned | Banned | Banned |
| Ryanair | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | No sockets on most aircraft |
| Wizz Air | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | No sockets |
| easyJet | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | No sockets |
| KLM / Air France | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted (USB on longer routes) |
| British Airways | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted (on long-haul) |
| Turkish Airlines | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Emirates | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Norwegian | Yes (up to 100 Wh) | Permitted | Permitted | No sockets on most aircraft |
Bottom line: at present, only Lufthansa Group has banned the active use of power banks. All other airlines allow charging devices from a power bank during the flight, but this situation can change at any time.
Capacity Limits — How Many mAh Is Allowed?
This is the most frequently asked question — and the biggest source of confusion. Aviation regulations use capacity in watt-hours (Wh), while power bank manufacturers list capacity in milliampere-hours (mAh).
Conversion formula:
Wh = (mAh × V) / 1000
Where V is the nominal voltage of a lithium battery, typically 3.7 V.
| Capacity (mAh) | Capacity (Wh) | Status on board |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh | Permitted — no restrictions |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Permitted — no restrictions |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Permitted — no restrictions |
| 26,800 mAh | 99.2 Wh | Permitted — right at the limit |
| 27,000 mAh | 99.9 Wh | Permitted — double-check before flying |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Requires airline approval (100–160 Wh) |
| 40,000 mAh | 148 Wh | Requires airline approval (100–160 Wh) |
| 50,000 mAh | 185 Wh | Prohibited — above 160 Wh |
Practical tip: the most popular power banks (10,000–20,000 mAh) fall comfortably within the 100 Wh limit and require no additional approval. Problems start with large power banks above 27,000 mAh.
How many power banks can you bring? Most airlines allow 2 units, each up to 100 Wh. Some airlines (e.g. Emirates) limit passengers to 1 unit in the 100–160 Wh range.
Power Bank in Hold Luggage — Why This Is a Serious Violation
This is the absolute rule number one: a power bank must never, under any circumstances, be placed in checked hold luggage. This applies to every airline in the world, without exception.
Why? Lithium batteries can spontaneously ignite — particularly as a result of mechanical damage (pressure from other bags), short circuits (contact with metal objects), or overheating. In the hold there are no passengers or crew to notice and respond to a fire. Halon fire suppression systems in cargo holds can tackle flames, but do not cool a battery that has entered thermal runaway.
What happens if you put a power bank in your hold bag?
- At the X-ray screening stage — the scanner detects the lithium battery. Your bag is pulled from the belt and opened. The power bank is confiscated.
- If it goes undetected — you expose yourself and other passengers to real danger. Fires in cargo holds have occurred in the past.
- Legal consequences — in some countries, knowingly placing a lithium battery in hold luggage is an offence subject to fines of several thousand euros.
The same applies to laptops, cameras, and other devices with lithium batteries — all should be carried in the cabin.
How to Transport a Power Bank Safely Through the Airport
Five rules for safely carrying a power bank:
Check the capacity before you leave home. Make sure the power bank has legible capacity information on the casing (in mAh or Wh). If the label is unreadable — replace it or print the specification from the manufacturer's website. Security staff may ask you to confirm the capacity.
Switch off the power bank before screening. Many power banks have a power button — switch it off before going through security. This reduces the risk of a false alarm.
Place the power bank in your bag, not in a pocket. A loose power bank in a coat pocket can trigger the body scanner. Inside your bag it passes through X-ray and is easily identifiable.
Protect the connectors. If your power bank has exposed USB or USB-C ports, cover them with caps or place the device in a small pouch. This prevents accidental short circuits from contact with metal objects (keys, coins).
Do not travel with a damaged power bank. A swollen, hot, cracked, or strange-smelling battery is a warning sign. Do not take it on board — dispose of it at an e-waste recycling point.
If Your Power Bank Was Confiscated at the Gate — What to Do
Power bank confiscations at airports happen every day. The most common reasons:
- No capacity marking on the casing
- Exceeding the 100 Wh limit (or 160 Wh with approval)
- Attempted carriage in hold luggage
- Visibly damaged power bank
If the confiscation was justified — there is little you can do. The rules are clear and enforced. The power bank goes to disposal.
If the confiscation was unjustified (e.g. your power bank was within the limit but was taken anyway) — you have the right to:
- Request written confirmation of the confiscation with the stated reason.
- File a complaint with the airport (not the airline — security is run by the airport or contracted security firms).
- Escalate to your national aviation authority.
And what if a power bank issue — for example, an extended additional security check or a confiscation — caused you to miss your flight or be denied boarding?
This is a situation where your passenger rights come into play. If the airline denied you boarding for a reason that was not your fault (e.g. an additional security check ordered by airport staff took too long), you may be entitled to compensation under EC 261/2004. Amounts range from €250 to €600 depending on the flight distance.
Assessing whether your situation qualifies for compensation can be complex. It's worth consulting AirHelp or a similar service that specialises in aviation claims and offers free eligibility checks.
FAQ
1. Can I take a 20,000 mAh power bank on a plane?
Yes — a 20,000 mAh power bank has a capacity of approximately 74 Wh, which is within the 100 Wh limit. You can bring it on board without additional approval. It must, however, be carried exclusively in hand luggage — never in checked bags.
2. How many power banks can I bring on board?
Most airlines allow 2 power banks, provided each does not exceed 100 Wh. Some airlines (e.g. Emirates) limit passengers to 1 unit in the 100–160 Wh range. Check your specific airline's policy before travelling.
3. Can I charge my phone from a power bank on Ryanair?
Yes — Ryanair allows passengers to use and charge devices from power banks during the flight. Unlike Lufthansa Group, Ryanair has not introduced a ban on active power bank use (status as of February 2026).
4. What should I do if my power bank has no capacity information on it?
This is a problem, as airport security may refuse to pass a power bank without visible specifications. Before your trip: print the product specification from the manufacturer's website and keep it with your bag. If you don't know the model — it's safer not to travel with it. A power bank without markings is the most common reason for confiscation.
5. Are solar-powered power banks allowed on planes?
Yes, provided the internal battery capacity is within the 100 Wh limit (or 100–160 Wh with approval). Solar panels themselves are not restricted — what matters is the capacity of the built-in lithium battery. Note that you won't be able to charge it through the window during the flight — aircraft windows filter UV radiation.
6. Can I put a laptop in my hold luggage?
Most airlines recommend carrying laptops in hand luggage, but technically a laptop with a battery below 100 Wh can be placed in hold baggage (with some exceptions for recalled models). However, for safety reasons, it is strongly advisable to carry laptops in the cabin — and this applies to all devices with lithium batteries.
7. Can I bring a power bank on a Lufthansa flight in 2026?
Yes — Lufthansa permits carriage of a power bank in hand luggage (up to 100 Wh). The ban applies to use during the flight — you cannot charge your phone or other devices from it. The same applies to Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings (the entire Lufthansa Group).
What if your flight is delayed?
Even the best-planned trip can be disrupted by a flight delay or cancellation. Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to up to €600 per person in compensation. Use our compensation calculator to check your claim in minutes, or read our complete guide to EC 261/2004 to understand your rights.