New Airport Rule Impacts 580,000 Brits’ Hand Luggage

New Rules for Power Banks on Flights in Singapore

Authorities in Singapore have introduced a new regulation limiting the number of power banks that passengers can carry on flights. The rule, which will take effect from April 15, allows each passenger to bring only two power banks. Any additional units must be surrendered before boarding the aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has emphasized that power banks should not be charged onboard the aircraft and that passengers should avoid using them to charge other devices during the flight. This policy is already in place on all Singapore Airlines flights, following a ban on these chargers in March 2025. However, the new rule is expected to impact a significant number of travelers, including around 580,000 Brits who visit Singapore annually.

The change follows an update by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which revised its global safety guidelines on April 2 to include a limit of two power banks per passenger. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has also recently banned the use of power banks on flights departing or arriving at its airports.

Airlines Implementing New Regulations

Several major airlines have already implemented similar restrictions. Emirates introduced a blanket ban on power banks onboard in October, while Lufthansa became the first European airline to do so in January this year. Officials are working with airlines operating out of Singapore’s Changi Airport to ensure the new requirements are implemented smoothly.

It is up to the airlines to inform passengers about the changes. A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore stated, “CAAS will provide some time for the airlines to do so and for passengers to familiarise themselves and have the requirements take effect only from 15 April, 2026.” In the meantime, passenger service and security screening officers will be trained to handle the new regulations.

Reminders will also be displayed across the airport to prevent any confusion. Foong Ling Huei, director of Flight Standards at CAAS, said, “The new requirements will help reduce the risk of fire caused by power banks on board flights. We urge all passengers to familiarise themselves and comply with the new requirements, for their own safety and the safety of other passengers.”

Why Are Power Banks a Problem on Planes?

Power banks pose a significant risk due to the potential for lithium-ion batteries to malfunction. If damaged, misused, or stored improperly, these batteries can short circuit, leading to a process called “thermal runaway,” where they overheat and potentially catch fire.

This issue has led the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to advise passengers to only carry power banks in their hand luggage and not in checked baggage. Concerns about allowing power banks in the cabin have grown since an incident in January 2025, when a portable power bank caused a fire that destroyed a passenger plane in South Korea.

The fire was first discovered by a flight attendant in an overhead luggage bin, and it quickly spread throughout the entire cabin. Fortunately, all passengers were evacuated safely. Similar incidents have occurred before, such as an Air China flight in October last year, where a power bank in carry-on luggage caught fire, but the crew managed to extinguish it during an emergency landing.

According to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation in Japan, portable battery chargers caused 123 fires in 2024, a more than 150% increase from the 47 fires reported in 2020. The Japanese fire agency noted that power banks accounted for 30% of the 290 incidents in 2024, followed by power tools and mobile phones.