Emirates Airlines announced that it will enforce a ban on the use of any type of portable device charging units (power banks) onboard its flights starting tomorrow, October 1, 2025. Emirates provides charging outlets in the seats on all its aircraft but advises customers to fully charge their devices before travel, especially on long-haul flights.

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

Emirates’ regulations for portable charging units onboard:

• Customers may carry only one power bank with a capacity below 100 watt-hours.
• Using power banks to charge any personal device onboard is prohibited.
• Connecting power banks to aircraft power sources for charging is forbidden.
• Each accepted power bank must clearly display its electrical capacity.
• Power banks must not be placed in overhead bins inside the cabin; they should 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.

Risk Mitigation:

Following a comprehensive safety review, Emirates has taken a firm and proactive stance to reduce risks related to portable charging units onboard, especially given the significant increase in passenger use that has led to a rise in lithium battery-related incidents in aviation overall.

Portable charging units primarily operate with lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, which are rechargeable batteries containing lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. These ions move between electrodes during charging and discharging. If the battery is overcharged or damaged, a “thermal runaway” may occur, which is a rapid, uncontrollable temperature rise that can cause fires, explosions, or toxic gas emissions.

While most modern devices with lithium batteries have internal protection systems to prevent overcharging, many low-quality power banks lack this feature, increasing the risk. All portable charging units are subject to the new regulations on Emirates flights.

The new rules aim to significantly reduce these risks by banning the use of power banks while onboard and requiring that these units be kept in accessible locations within the cabin to allow trained crew to respond quickly in case of fire.

Safety is a core value for Emirates and a fundamental pillar in all its operations and practices. The airline reaffirms its commitment to maintaining and continuously enhancing the highest safety standards to ensure the safety of passengers and staff at all times.