UPDATE: 2026/01/15 18:47 EST BY ABID HABIB

In a statement shared by a spokesperson for the Lufthansa Group, the following exception to the latest announcement was emphasized:

« An exception is made for the use of approved personal medical devices. »

One of the largest airline groups in Europe, the Lufthansa Group, has banned its passengers from utilizing power banks on board any of its flights and states that this new regulation is based on recommendations issued by regulatory authorities such as EASA and FAA, as well as by organizations such as ICAO and IATA. This makes the Lufthansa Group the latest in the industry to impose such restrictions.

The number of airlines introducing restrictions on power bank use has been increasing considerably over the past two years, due to the increasing number of incidents recorded in which power banks have experienced thermal runaways, resulting in operational disruptions, injuries, and even an aircraft write-off.

The Lufthansa Group Is The Latest To Restrict Power Banks

As of today (January 15, 2026), one of Europe’s largest airline groups, the Lufthansa Group will not permit passengers to use power banks on board its aircraft, and as per the press release from the group, passengers will not be permitted to charge their power banks either. These restrictions align with those introduced by several other carriers all around the world in recent times.

Further restrictions introduced include a limit on the number of power banks a passenger can carry onboard, and for customers flying with airlines of the Lufthansa Group, the limit is two power banks per passenger. Furthermore, the rules state that power banks carried on board with a power consumption ranging between 100 Wh and 160 Wh (Watt-hours) must obtain approval from the airline in advance.

The new restrictions also state that any power banks carried onboard must be stored either in the seat-back pockets, or in carry-on bags stored under the seat, or on the passenger’s person, to ensure that in the event of a thermal runway, the devices can be easily accessed and contained. As per the press release, the new regulations introduced by the Lufthansa Group are in line with recommendations from authorities such as EASA, FAA, IATA, and ICAO.

An Increasing Number of Airlines

As the number of incidents reported increased, airlines around the world began banning the use of power banks on board. It is, however, important to emphasize that passengers can still carry power banks in their carry-on, but cannot use them in flight. As of now, over two dozen airlines have banned the use of power banks, with Lufthansa Group being the latest to impose restrictions.

Furthermore, it is also worth noting that when the Lufthansa Group imposes this restriction, it is not just for Lufthansa, but it is applicable to all 12 carriers in the group. These include the airlines detailed in the table below.

Other airlines that have banned the use of power banks on board include carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Korean Air, Asiana, Thai Airways, and more. However, the most recent incident from last week proves that thermal runaways can occur even when the power banks are not being used.

This incident involved a power bank on a T’way Airlines flight that emitted smoke, prompting the crew members to safely contain the device. While in this case, no injuries, damages, or operational disruptions were experienced, a few passengers and crew members were exposed to smoke from the device. However, things could get much worse.

The Aforementioned Aircraft Write-Off

As mentioned in the introduction, thermal runaways can result in significant injuries, damage, operational disruptions, and possibly, even an aircraft write-off. One such incident occurred in January 2025, when, according to reports, a power bank stored on board an Airbus A321 operated by Air Busan experienced a thermal runaway, resulting in the device catching fire and spreading. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, with only a few minor injuries reported.

The only loss was the aircraft being written off due to the fire spreading and causing significant damage to the roof of the aircraft. However, this incident demonstrated the lengths to which a battery thermal runaway can pose a hazard to flight safety. According to the Korea Times, within a few months of this incident, the nation banned the use of power banks on board all South Korean carriers and introduced rules about storing these devices in an easily accessible manner.

Overall, it is highly likely that going forward, more airlines will impose such restrictions and bans to ensure flight safety is not compromised. While many airlines already offer in-seat charging ports, airlines that do not provide this have also started retrofitting charging points on board their aircraft to ensure passengers can still use their electronic devices.