PSA: You Can No Longer Charge With Power Banks Aboard Planes

(SPOT.ph) Our phones are the ultimate travel essential. They’re not just for calls and texts; they’re our cameras, storage hubs, and all-around lifesavers whenever we're out and about. But if you’re gearing up for a long flight, you might want to be mindful of your battery life.

Heads up, travelers: Charging with power banks is no longer allowed aboard planes. Here’s what you need to know about the new policy.

Also read: AirAsia Tightens 7kg Carry-On Rule

Here's what this new rule on power banks means for your trips:

In Advisory Circular 18-005, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued new guidelines for the air transport of portable electronic devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, which includes power banks.

This memo released by CAAP last March 7 details that the use and charging of power banks during flights is strictly prohibited due to safety concerns associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The circular reads, "Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) shall not be used at any time during the flight except under operator-controlled conditions." This means that if you're low on power, it's best that you charge all your devices before boarding or wait until after you have deplaned to whip out your portable chargers. 

This new guideline comes after several incidents of in-plane fires and explosions plagued the industry in early 2025. You might recall news reports of an Air Busan plane that caught on fire while on the tarmac back in January, which has since been credited to an overheated portable charger, or the more recent news of a plane that performed an emergency landing after a power bank exploded inside the aircraft. 

Regardless of which story you heard, these incidents have since triggered a massive industry-wide review of battery carriage rules. In the same memo, CAAP also provided specific battery capacity limits for lithium-ion batteries that passengers can carry. Passengers may carry power banks with a capacity of 100 watt-hours (Wh) or less, but those between 100Wh and 160Wh require prior approval from the airline. Meanwhile, power banks exceeding 160Wh are not permitted on board.

AirAsia's power bank carriage and usage policy

This memo applies to all aircraft operators in the Philippines. In addition, AirAsia is implementing a new policy allowing the carriage of not more than two power banks, each not exceeding 100 Wh, and prohibits the use of portable chargers in-flight. 

Moreover, the airline explicitly prohibits passengers from storing their power banks in the overhead compartments. Instead, they must keep the portable chargers with their personal belongings under the seat or in the seat pocket in front of them.

Passengers found using power banks onboard will receive an initial warning. If they continue to use the device, it will be confiscated and returned upon landing. 

Also read: The Ultimate Step-By-Step Travel Guide for the Airport Newbie

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