Power Bank Rules From Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet, TUI, And More

Recently, an EasyJet flight from Egypt to London took an unexpected stop in Rome. The reason? A passenger was charging a power bank in their luggage, which was placed in the plane’s hold.

The airline cited “safety reasons” for the diversion, explaining, “The safety of its passengers and crew is EasyJet’s highest priority, and EasyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines”.

Here’s why power banks pose risks on flight, as well as the rules you may have to follow if you want to bring one on board:

They use lithium batteries, which carry more energy than lots of other batteries and run a higher risk of catching fire. This is especially likely if the battery is damaged, short-circuits, gets wet, or is overcharged.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service explained that “If one cell of a lithium-ion battery overheats, it can enter a state of thermal runaway, which can quickly spread to other cells in the battery. This is an explosive chemical reaction similar to several fireworks going off at once”.

This has had real-life effects on airports and flights before. An exploded power bank led Melbourne Airport to evacuate passengers in 2025. South Korean airline Air Busan attributed a plane-destroying fire to a portable power bank, too.

For that reason, power banks and other lithium batteries – including those in smart bags – usually aren’t allowed in the hold. Customers typically have to bring these on board with them, where they can be more carefully monitored.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the general rules are:

• Power banks need to be carried in carry-on luggage,
• They can’t be changed on board,
• You can’t bring more than two power banks with you on a flight,
• They shouldn’t be used to charge another device on the flight,
• Power banks over 100Wh need to be approved by the operator,
• No power banks over 160Wh should be brought on board at all,
• They need to be individually protected when not in use,
• Power banks must meet the requirements of each test in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3.

These apply to all commercial airlines. But some have additional rules too.

For instance, Jet2 has said that power banks that don’t show the “watt-hour rating or lithium metal content, or where the watt-hour rating cannot easily be otherwise ascertained, are forbidden” on their flights.

Ryanair said that spare lithium batteries, including power banks, should “be placed in your small cabin baggage underneath the seat in front of you or on your person”. They have a 100wH limit, too.

British Airways, meanwhile, asks passengers to place their power banks (under 110Wh) either in the pocket at the back of the chair in front of you or in a bag under the seat.

While easyJet’s site says they automatically allow power banks up to 160Wh, they warn that “if a product that contains a lithium battery is subject to a safety recall related to the battery, it must not be carried aboard an aircraft”.

“Loose batteries and power banks should be individually protected against short circuits by carrying them in their original packaging, with terminals taped or in a plastic bag in hand luggage,” the carrier’s site reads.

This is what the CAA means by saying that power banks not in use need to be “individually protected”.

And, TUI added, the device needs to be completely switched off, not just in standby or hibernation mode.

You’ll need airline approval for power banks above 100Wh and under 160Wh, Virgin Airlines said. Contact their Customer Centre before you travel if this applies to you.

Regardless of its battery strength, your power bank must be in good condition with no signs of damage.

Additionally, power banks “must be able to fit inside our onboard Fire Containment Bag (37×28×10cm) in the event of an emergency”, their site reads.

Don’t keep power banks in the overhead locker, either, the airline said.

Check the rules of the airline you’re flying with before your trip so you won’t get caught out (or, you know, accidentally cause a day-long flight diversion).