Emirates Airlines announced that starting tomorrow, October 1, 2025, the use of any type of portable device chargers (power banks) will be banned on its flights. Emirates provides charging outlets in the seats on all its aircraft but recommends customers fully charge their devices before traveling, especially on long-haul flights.

A portable device charger (power bank) is a rechargeable device used to supply power to other electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and cameras. Emirates customers are allowed to carry only one power bank on board under specific conditions, but its use inside the aircraft cabin is prohibited, whether for charging devices or recharging the power bank itself using the aircraft’s power sources.

Emirates’ regulations regarding portable device chargers on board include:

• Customers may carry only one power bank with a capacity of less than 100 watt-hours.
• The use of power banks to charge any personal device on board is prohibited.
• Connecting power banks to power sources inside the aircraft for charging is forbidden.
• Each accepted power bank must clearly display its electrical capacity.
• Power banks are prohibited from being stored in overhead bins and must be kept in the seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front.
• Power banks are not allowed in checked luggage, according to current procedures.

Emirates takes a firm and proactive stance to reduce risks related to portable device chargers on board after a comprehensive safety review. Recent years have seen a significant increase in passenger use of these devices, leading to a rise in lithium battery-related incidents in the aviation sector overall.

Portable chargers mainly operate with lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, which are rechargeable batteries designed to power devices on the go. These batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution that move back and forth between electrodes during charging and discharging. If a battery is overcharged or damaged, a “thermal runaway” may occur, a rapid self-accelerating reaction causing a large, uncontrollable temperature rise, potentially leading to fires, explosions, or toxic gas emissions.

While most advanced phones and devices with lithium batteries have built-in protection systems to prevent overcharging, many low-quality power banks lack this feature, increasing risk levels. All portable device chargers are subject to the new regulations on Emirates flights.

The new regulations adopted by Emirates aim to significantly reduce these risks by banning the use of portable device chargers while on board. Additionally, requiring these units to be placed in easily accessible locations inside the cabin allows trained crew to intervene quickly and control any fire incidents.