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By Joyce Nicolai
The International Civil Aviation Organization has introduced updated requirements for the carriage of lithium batteries on aircraft, with particular attention on power banks. The changes took effect on 27 March 2026 and are intended to improve safety, reduce uncertainty and support greater consistency across airlines.
Lithium batteries are now part of everyday air travel. They power passenger devices, crew equipment, electronic flight bags, tablets, card readers and many other operational tools. That familiarity can make the risk feel routine, but the regulatory position remains important: lithium batteries must be carried, protected and managed in a way that reduces the likelihood of short circuit, accidental activation and in-flight incidents.
The updated ICAO requirements are particularly relevant for airlines, crew and passengers because they clarify how power banks are treated, including how many may be carried, where they must be carried and how they may be used during flight.
What this means for airlines
For airlines carrying devices with lithium batteries for operational use, the existing requirements remain unchanged. This may include power banks, spare batteries, electronic flight bags, tablets or card readers used by the operator during a flight.
However, additional precautions apply to spare batteries and power banks, including those intended for sale on board. These items must be packaged and managed in a way that prevents short circuits. In practical terms, this may mean keeping items in their original packaging, taping exposed terminals or placing items in separate plastic bags.
Devices must also be secured so they cannot turn on accidentally during flight.
Battery standards remain central to compliance. Batteries must meet applicable international testing standards. Lithium metal batteries are limited to 2 g of lithium, while lithium-ion batteries are capped at 100 Wh.
Airlines must also document the relevant procedures and conditions for carrying and using electronic devices, and for transporting spare batteries and power banks, in the operations manual and/or other relevant manuals. This documentation is important because flight crew, cabin crew and other personnel need to understand their assigned responsibilities before these items are carried or used on board.
What this means for passengers and crew
The updated requirements make a clearer distinction between power banks and spare batteries. Power banks now have their own set of rules for personal carriage by passengers and crew.
Under the new requirements:
- Power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage only.
- Power banks must be individually protected when not in use.
- Power banks must not be recharged on board.
- Power banks should not be used to charge other devices during the flight.
- Each person may carry a maximum of two power banks.
This is a practical change for passengers and crew. Power banks are commonly carried as convenience items, particularly on long flights, but they are also lithium battery devices and need to be managed accordingly.
Battery size limits
The size limits have not changed.
Power banks up to 100 Wh, or 2 g lithium, may be carried without airline approval.
Power banks between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require airline approval before travel.
The effect of the updated rules is therefore not a change to the core size limits, but a clearer set of handling, carriage and use requirements for power banks during air travel.
Why this matters
The updated requirements are a reminder that lithium battery safety depends on consistent controls before and during flight. It is not enough for a battery to be within the permitted watt-hour or lithium content limit. It must also be protected from short circuit, secured against accidental activation and carried in the correct location.
For airlines, the operational issue is documentation and crew awareness. Procedures need to be clear enough that cabin crew, flight crew and other relevant personnel understand what is permitted, what is restricted and what action is required when passengers or crew are carrying power banks or spare batteries.
For passengers and crew, the message is more direct. Power banks should be treated as regulated lithium battery items, not simply as personal electronic accessories. They must be carried in cabin baggage, individually protected when not in use and managed in accordance with the updated restrictions.
Final reflection
The ICAO changes do not remove lithium batteries from aircraft operations or passenger travel. They recognise that these batteries are already part of modern aviation and place clearer controls around how they are carried and used.
For operators, the priority is to ensure procedures are documented, communicated and understood. For passengers and crew, the priority is simple: carry power banks correctly, protect them from damage or short circuit, and follow the updated restrictions during flight.
The underlying objective is a safer and more consistent approach to lithium battery carriage across international aviation.
