Passengers on Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Scoot will no longer be allowed to charge their devices using power banks during flights starting April 2025. Charging power banks via onboard USB ports will also be prohibited, the airlines announced on Facebook today.
Passengers can still bring power banks onboard, provided they comply with capacity limits: up to 100Wh without approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval. Power banks exceeding 160Wh are strictly prohibited.
“The SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries,” said SIA and Scoot. Power banks must only be carried in cabin baggage and are not allowed in checked luggage.
The move follows similar restrictions by other airlines. Thai Airways will prohibit power bank usage from March 15, citing passenger and crew safety. EVA Air has already banned power bank use and charging on its flights, advising passengers to fully charge their devices before boarding. South Korea’s Air Busan has also implemented similar measures.
In 2023, a power bank caught fire on a Scoot flight from Taipei to Singapore. The device overheated while the aircraft was still on the ground, prompting further safety considerations.
CNA
