Although passengers may still carry one power bank rated below 100 watt-hours, its use to charge devices or be recharged using the aircraft's power supply is strictly prohibited. DGCA in a 'Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular' issued in November 2025 flagged. . Airlines are cracking down on power bank usage after a rise in incidents involving batteries overheating. O_Lypa/Getty Images/iStockphoto This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. The reason: there are rising concerns. .
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Can you carry a battery on a plane?
Spare (uninstalled) lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, must be carried in carry-on baggage only. When a carry-on bag is checked at the gate or at planeside, all spare lithium batteries and power banks must be removed from the bag and kept with the passenger in the aircraft cabin.
Can you carry lithium ion batteries on a plane?
Lithium-ion batteries, such as power banks, should only be packed in carry-on baggage, according to US FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules. In general, most airlines allow each passenger to carry a maximum of two lithium-ion power banks of 100-160 Watt-hour (Wh) into the cabin.
Can power banks and spare batteries be stored in luggage?
The DGCA said that power banks and spare batteries will be allowed only in hand luggage and cannot be stored in overhead compartments. India has rolled out stricter in-flight safety norms over the use of power banks and other lithium battery-powered devices.
How many lithium ion batteries can a passenger carry?
In general, most airlines allow each passenger to carry a maximum of two lithium-ion power banks of 100-160 Watt-hour (Wh) into the cabin. However, most power banks on the market use the unit milliamperes per hour (mAh) to measure the battery's capacity. So, look for ones that are no more than about 43,000 mAh to comply with most airline rules.