Batteries and power banks
Rules for flying with spare lithium batteries and power banks: the industry and regulatory baselines, plus verified airline-specific deviations. Each figure keeps its own source, quote and check date.
Industry and regulatory baselines
Baselines are kept separate by issuer. IATA guidance is an industry recommendation — airlines must still comply with local aviation authorities and national laws. FAA rules carry their US regulatory scope. The two are never merged into one rule.
Spare lithium batteries and power banks (US FAA regulation)
Regulation (has jurisdiction)FAA / US DOT · Scope: us
≤ 100 Wh → Carry-on · ≤ 160 Wh → With airline approval · ≤ 160 Wh → Forbidden · ≤ 160 Wh → Checked
US regulatory scope. Per source: "Based on US DOT regulations (49 CFR, Sec. 175.10). Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security, individual airline, and international rules may, at times, be more restrictive."
Checked: 2026-10-12 · Rule detail →
Spare lithium batteries and power banks (IATA industry guidance)
Industry guidance (not law)IATA · Scope: global
≤ 100 Wh → Carry-on · ≤ 160 Wh → With airline approval · ≤ 160 Wh → Forbidden
Industry recommendation, not law. Per source: "All airlines follow IATA's global safety recommendations but must also comply with local aviation authorities and national laws." Local regulations, airline safety risk assessments and route-specific restrictions may differ.
Checked: 2026-10-12 · Rule detail →
Airline deviations on file
Airlines below have published their own battery rules. Each row states how the airline differs from the baseline (stricter / override / note) and whether the deviation has been independently verified. Unverified rows are listed for transparency but are NOT applied by the verifier.
| Airline | Key published limits | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air France Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks and spare or removed batteries between 100 and 160 Wh: limited to 2 items per person in total (combined).; Up to 15 battery-powered devices and 20 spare or removed batteries per passenger (within 100 Wh / 2 g LC) | air-france-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| American Airlines Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh / max 160 Wh · Portable chargers (power banks): limit 2 per passenger while onboard; Lithium-ion spare batteries under 100 Wh: up to 4 in carry-on.; Lithium-ion spare batteries 100-160 Wh: up to 2 in carry-on. | american-airlines-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| British Airways Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks: up to 2 per person, stored in the seat pocket or in a bag placed under the seat in front.; Spare batteries: max 4 per person, of which up to 2 may be power banks · 2 count with approval | british-airways-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| Cathay Pacific Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 160 Wh · Power banks: each passenger may carry a maximum of two lithium battery power banks.; Spare lithium batteries under 100 Wh / 2 g LC: 20 spare pieces per passenger.; Medium lithium batteries 100-160 Wh: 2 spare pieces per passenger · forbidden over 160 Wh | cathay-pacific-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| Emirates Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks: one per passenger, max capacity 100 Wh, clearly visible capacity rating required; Spare batteries: maximum of 20 spare batteries per passenger, individually protected to avoid short-circuiting. · 2 count with approval | emirates-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| Lufthansa Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks: max 2 per passenger (Lufthansa Group-wide, effective 15 January 2026).; Spare batteries up to 100 Wh / 2 g LC: 20 items per passenger, including all battery types (non-spillable wet, dry cell, gel cell, lithium and power banks). · 2 count with approval | lufthansa-batterieslufthansa-powerbank-advisory | 2026-10-12 |
| Qantas Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks: maximum of 2 per passenger, each not exceeding 160 Wh.; Spare batteries: no more than 20 in total for personal use · 2 count with approval · forbidden over 160 Wh | qantas-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
| Singapore Airlines Stricter Unverified | carry-on capacity max 100 Wh · Power banks: max 2 per passenger; Spare batteries (up to 100 Wh / 2 g LC): max 20 per passenger. · 2 count with approval | singapore-airlines-batteriessingapore-airlines-powerbank-advisory | 2026-10-12 |
| United Airlines Stricter Verified | carry-on capacity max 160 Wh / max 100 Wh · Power banks: maximum of two per passenger; Lithium-ion batteries rated over 100 Wh up to 160 Wh: maximum of two, carry-on only. | united-batteries | 2026-10-12 |
Airlines not listed here have no deviation on file. That does NOT mean they follow the baseline — it means we have not collected their rules yet. 1 deviation(s) on file are not yet independently verified — they are listed above without a Verified badge and are NOT applied by the verifier. 8 deviation(s) are independently verified and applied.
Baselines are kept separate by issuer. IATA guidance is an industry recommendation — airlines must still comply with local aviation authorities and national laws. FAA rules carry their US regulatory scope. The two are never merged into one rule. Battery rules change frequently — power-bank use restrictions in particular were introduced by several airlines during 2025–2026. Always confirm with your airline before flying.