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The Lufthansa Group will implement new restrictions on power banks across all of the airlines in its portfolio beginning tomorrow, January 15th.The new rules are stricter around carriage, charging, and storage in an effort to reduce fire risks associated with lithium batteries. The updated regulations align with safety guidance from international aviation bodies including EASA, FAA, IATA, and ICAO.
Under the new policy, passengers may carry a maximum of two power banks and may no longer use them to charge devices such as phones or tablets during flight. Charging the power bank itself using aircraft power outlets is also prohibited. Power banks must remain in the cabin (not in checked bags) and may be kept on the passenger’s person, in their seat pocket, or in carry-on baggage stored under the seat. Placement in overhead bins is no longer permitted to ensure rapid access in the event of a malfunction.
Battery capacity limits remain in place. Power banks up to 100 watt-hours may be carried without restriction, while devices between 100 and 160 watt-hours require prior airline approval. The rules also apply to e-cigarettes. Exceptions are made for essential medical devices that rely on external power sources.
Incidents are very real and quite scary. In October, an Air China flight from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) was forced to make an emergency diversion after a lithium battery caught fire mid-flight and filled the cabin with flames and smoke. The incident occurred aboard flight CA139, which was operated by an Airbus A321. In November, a man suffered burns after a lithium power bank ignited in his pocket at Melbourne Airport (MEL). This forced the evacuation of around 150 people from the Qantas Business Lounge on Thursday morning. Several carriers like Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, AirAsia, Thai Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and EVA Air have all introduced their own restrictions.
Anthony’s Take: We have seen several fires in flight as a result of phones and power bank overheating. The Lufthansa Group carriers hope to reduce the potential for onboard incidents by implementing stricter rules. The new policy reinforces the growing scrutiny on lithium-powered accessories in aviation and the dangers that these devices can pose.
(Image Credits: Lufthansa.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
