Lufthansa has implemented a significant policy shift, becoming the first major European airline to prohibit passengers from using power banks to charge electronic devices during flights. This decisive move follows a concerning series of safety incidents involving portable chargers overheating and catching fire on aircraft operated by various carriers worldwide.
Safety Concerns Prompt Strict New Regulations
The German flag carrier has completely revised its regulations concerning portable battery packs after multiple alarming events. One particularly serious incident occurred last year aboard an Air China A312 Airbus, where a power bank overheated and ignited, requiring crew intervention to extinguish the flames. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but this was not an isolated case.
In August, another power bank fire broke out on a KLM flight travelling from São Paulo to Amsterdam, again necessitating crew action to contain the situation. These repeated safety breaches have prompted aviation authorities and airlines globally to reassess their policies regarding these common travel accessories.
Detailed New Restrictions for Passengers
Under Lufthansa's updated regulations, passengers may still carry power banks in their cabin luggage, but using them to charge devices during flights is now expressly forbidden. The airline classifies personal electronic devices and batteries as dangerous goods due to their potential to generate heat, short-circuit, and ignite if damaged.
Specific storage requirements have been introduced:
- Power banks must be stored in hand luggage placed under the seat in front, in seat pockets, or carried on the person
- They are strictly prohibited from being placed in overhead compartments
- Passengers are advised to protect power banks against damage using original packaging
- Transport approval is required for power banks exceeding 100 watt-hours
- A maximum of two power banks per person is permitted
The airline maintains its existing ban on power banks in checked luggage, reinforcing that all such devices must remain in the cabin where any incidents can be addressed immediately.
Exceptions and Wider Industry Impact
Lufthansa has made one notable exception to the charging prohibition: passengers may use power banks with approved medical devices during flights. Those wishing to carry power banks larger than the specified restrictions must notify the airline in advance and obtain specific approval.
These new regulations apply across all Lufthansa-operated flights, including those operated by affiliated carriers and Lufthansa-owned aircraft. The policy change represents a significant development in aviation safety protocols and may influence other airlines to implement similar restrictions.
Lufthansa's decision follows Emirates becoming the first airline globally to completely ban power banks last year, while numerous carriers have already prohibited them in checked luggage. As aviation safety organisations worldwide continue investigating appropriate safety measures, further restrictions across the industry appear increasingly likely.
