# Thai Airways Prohibits Power Bank Usage and In-Flight Charging

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/travel/201216-thai-airways-prohibits-power-bank-usage-and-in-flight-charging
- Published: 2025-03-09T12:37:25+07:00
- Author: Jeff Pinchuck

Thai Airways, along with other airlines worldwide, is prohibiting the usage and 
charging of power banks during flights starting March 15, following a fire incident
aboard a Korean Air flight that was linked to a faulty power bank.

 * **✈️ Thai Airways Policy Change** Thai Airways has announced a complete ban on
   the use and charging of power banks on flights due to fire risks from lithium
   batteries. [source](https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2975303/thai-airways-banning-power-bank-use-on-flights-)
 * **⚠️ Safety Concerns** This decision aligns with various airlines responding 
   to safety regulations surrounding the risk of lithium battery-related fires.
 * **📅 Implementation Date** The ban will be officially enforced starting March
   15, 2025, impacting all flights operated by Thai Airways.

Passengers can still carry power banks in their hand luggage, but their use and 
charging during flights are now strictly forbidden. This is due to the potential
fire hazard posed by these devices, which are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries
and can react to air pressure shifts during flights.

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Various airlines have adopted different limits on the size of power banks allowed
on board. Passengers are advised to check specific airline policies before traveling
to avoid confiscation or flight delays. These measures aim to ensure safety for 
both passengers and aircraft crews.

Airline policies on power banks are primarily driven by safety concerns related 
to lithium-ion batteries, which are common in these devices. These policies are 
guided by regulations from organizations like the International Air Transport Association(
IATA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA), but individual airlines may impose additional restrictions.
Below is an overview of general policies and some airline-specific examples based
on widely accepted standards as of March 9, 2025.

## General Guidelines

 1. **Carry-On Only**: Power banks are universally required to be packed in carry-on
    luggage, not checked baggage. This is because lithium-ion batteries pose a fire
    risk, and incidents are easier to manage in the cabin than in the cargo hold.
 2. **Capacity Limits**:
 3.  * **Up to 100 Watt-Hours (Wh)**: Most airlines allow power banks with a capacity
       of 100 Wh or less without special approval. This typically equates to around
       20,000–27,000 milliamp-hours (mAh), depending on the voltage (commonly 3.7V 
       or 5V).
     * **101–160 Wh**: Power banks in this range are often permitted but may require
       airline approval, with a limit of two per passenger. They must be protected 
       against short-circuiting (e.g., terminals taped or in original packaging).
     * **Above 160 Wh**: These are generally prohibited on passenger flights, though
       they may be shipped as cargo under strict IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
 4. **Condition**: Power banks must be undamaged, as compromised batteries increase
    fire risks. Recalled or visibly defective units are typically banned.
 5. **Usage**: Many airlines allow power banks to be used during flights to charge 
    devices, but restrictions may apply during takeoff, landing, or turbulence, per
    crew instructions. Some carriers have stricter rules (see below).
 6. **Labeling**: Capacity (in Wh or mAh) should be clearly marked on the device. Unlabeled
    power banks may be confiscated at security checkpoints.

## How to Calculate Watt-Hours

If your power bank lists capacity in mAh instead of Wh, use this formula:
**Wh =(
mAh × Voltage) ÷ 1000**For example, a 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7V = (20,000 × 
3.7) ÷ 1000 = 74 Wh, which is within the standard limit.

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## Airline-Specific Policies

While policies align with IATA and FAA/TSA guidelines, airlines can vary slightly.
Here are examples based on common practices and recent updates:

 * **Delta Air Lines**: Allows power banks in carry-on luggage only, with a limit
   of 20 spare batteries under 100 Wh per passenger. Between 100–160 Wh, two spares
   are permitted with approval, and each must be individually protected against 
   short circuits. Above 160 Wh is prohibited.
 * **American Airlines**: Permits power banks in carry-on baggage, typically up 
   to 160 Wh with approval for those exceeding 100 Wh. Usage is generally allowed
   but subject to crew discretion (e.g., may be restricted during critical flight
   phases).
 * **Thai Airways**: As of March 15, 2025, Thai Airways has reportedly banned the
   _use_ of power banks during flights to enhance passenger safety, according to
   posts on X. They must still be carried in hand luggage, with capacity limits 
   likely following IATA standards (up to 100 Wh without approval, 101–160 Wh with
   approval, above 160 Wh banned).
 * **AirAsia**: Recent X posts suggest AirAsia has imposed restrictions on in-flight
   use of power banks alongside Thai Airways, though specific capacity rules align
   with IATA: up to 100 Wh allowed, 101–160 Wh with approval, and carry-on only.
 * **Cebu Pacific**: Permits power banks in carry-on luggage, with a stated limit
   of 20,000 mAh (roughly 74–100 Wh depending on voltage), per informal customer
   service responses. Approval is needed for larger capacities up to 160 Wh.
 * **Emirates**: Allows up to 20 spare batteries (including power banks) under 100
   Wh in carry-on luggage. Between 100–160 Wh, two spares are permitted with approval.
   Usage during flight is typically allowed unless otherwise directed by crew.
 * **Air Busan**: Following a fire incident on January 28, 2025, at Gimhae Airport,
   Air Busan banned power banks entirely from cabin baggage starting February 7,
   2025, per X posts. Handbags are screened, and only power bank-free bags are allowed
   in overhead bins—an unusually strict policy.

## Practical Tips

 * **Check Airline Rules**: Always verify with your specific airline before travel,
   as policies can differ or change (e.g., Air Busan’s ban). Visit their website
   or contact customer service.
 * **Prepare for Security**: Keep power banks accessible for inspection. If capacity
   isn’t labeled, bring documentation or expect potential confiscation.
 * **International Flights**: Rules may vary by country or airport. For example,
   some regions (like China) enforce stricter checks on battery labeling or capacity.

## Why These Rules Exist

Lithium-ion batteries can overheat or short-circuit, leading to thermal runaway—
a rapid, uncontrollable temperature increase that may cause fires. In the cabin,
crew can respond quickly; in the cargo hold, a fire might go unnoticed until it’s
catastrophic. Recent incidents, like the Air Busan fire, highlight why airlines 
are cautious.

If you’re traveling soon, double-check your power bank’s capacity and your airline’s
latest policy to avoid surprises at the gate!