Japan officially bans the use of power banks on airplanes.
Bringing electronic devices on airplanes has become common, but safety regulations regarding lithium-ion batteries are becoming increasingly stringent. Japan is the latest country to take strong measures against power banks.
Starting April 24, 2026, passengers on commercial flights to and from Japan will not be permitted to use portable power banks during the flight. This means you cannot use them to charge your phone, tablet, or any other personal device while in the air.
However, passengers are still allowed to carry a maximum of two power banks in their carry-on baggage, but they are strictly prohibited from using them. Additionally, charging devices using lithium-ion batteries via the aircraft's power outlet is also restricted.
This is a significant change, especially for those who frequently fly long distances and rely on portable chargers to stay connected.
The risk of fire and explosion from lithium-ion batteries is the main reason Japan made this decision.
The new regulation is not an arbitrary decision. Aviation regulators are increasingly concerned about the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries, a common type of battery in most electronic devices today.
According to statistics in the US, since 2006 there have been 717 incidents related to lithium-ion batteries on aircraft, of which 281 cases originated directly from the batteries themselves. These incidents often involved overheating, smoking, or even fires.
A typical incident occurred in 2025 on an American Airlines flight, when a passenger's personal device caught fire in the cabin, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
In Japan, the situation is also worrying. In 2024, the country recorded 123 incidents related to batteries, a 160% increase compared to 2020. These figures formed the basis for the government's decision to tighten regulations.
The regulations conform to international standards.
Japan's new policy is based on updated recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations agency that sets aviation safety standards for 193 countries.
This trend isn't unique to Japan. Previously, many major airlines such as Finnair (Finland), Singapore Airlines (Singapore), and Emirates (United Arab Emirates) had also implemented similar restrictions on portable chargers on flights.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stipulates that each passenger is only allowed to carry a maximum of two spare batteries and prohibits placing them in checked baggage.
The risks aren't limited to the aviation environment; power banks themselves pose potential risks. Several large-scale product recalls have occurred recently.
For example, Anker once recalled over a million power banks due to the risk of fire and explosion. In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission also ordered the recall of hundreds of thousands of portable chargers for the same reason.
These incidents further reinforce the view that lithium-ion batteries, if not properly regulated, can become a serious safety threat.
What should passengers do if they are not allowed to use power banks on the plane?
The inability to use a power bank on an airplane is certainly inconvenient, but there are still ways to proactively power your devices:
- Charge your device fully before boarding the plane.
- Limit battery-draining tasks such as playing games or recording videos.
- Bring a charging cable to utilize the power source in the seat (if permitted).
- Prioritize devices with large battery capacity if you frequently fly long distances.
With Japan officially implementing the new regulations, it is highly likely that other countries and airlines will soon follow suit. In the context of aviation safety becoming an increasingly important priority, portable power banks, once considered indispensable for passengers, may gradually face further restrictions.
If you plan to fly to Japan in the near future, please check the airline's regulations to avoid any unnecessary problems.
