Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Emirates airline has taken a decision to prohibit the use of power banks during flights starting from October 1, citing safety concerns linked to lithium battery-related incidents in the aviation industry.
The new policy, announced in a statement issued by the airline, follows a comprehensive safety review aimed at reducing the risk of onboard fires.
While passengers will still be permitted to carry one power bank with them, strict conditions will apply. The device must be rated under 100 watt hours, must not be used to charge personal devices onboard, and cannot be charged using the aircraft’s power supply. Additionally, all accepted power banks must have their capacity clearly labelled.
According to the airline’s new guidelines, power banks may not be stored in overhead lockers. Instead, they must be placed in the seat pocket or a bag under the seat. The long-standing rule prohibiting power banks in checked baggage remains unchanged.
“Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard,” the airline said in its statement. “There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry.”
Emirates explained that most power banks use lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries which, if damaged or overcharged, could enter a dangerous state known as thermal runaway. This condition can cause a battery to heat uncontrollably, potentially resulting in fires, explosions, or toxic gas release. While modern phones and devices typically include safeguards to prevent such occurrences, many basic power banks lack these protections, the airline added.
By restricting their use, Emirates said it aims to reduce the risks while ensuring power banks are stored in locations accessible to cabin crew. “This ensures that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond and extinguish it,” the statement said.
The airline reiterated that safety remains one of its core values. “Emirates is committed to maintaining and improving levels of safety on an ongoing basis, safeguarding customers and staff at all times.”
