Passengers will be limited to carrying no more than two portable power banks on board aircraft starting April 20, while all in-flight use and charging of the devices will be banned under newly adopted international safety standards.
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said April 8 that the updated rules, which it proposed, were formally approved by the council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on March 27.
Under the new standards, each passenger may carry up to two power banks, each with a capacity not exceeding 160 watt-hours. Devices exceeding that threshold, such as large-capacity camping batteries, remain prohibited from air transport.
The rules also prohibit using power banks to charge personal electronic devices during flights, as well as charging the power banks themselves. All such devices must be carried in the cabin and are not permitted in checked baggage, regardless of capacity.
Previous international guidelines did not limit the number of smaller power banks—typically those under 100 watt-hours, equivalent to about 27,000 milliampere-hours—allowed on board. South Korea had imposed its own restrictions, permitting up to five units under that threshold and up to two units between 100 and 160 watt-hours with airline approval.
The updated global standard replaces those guidelines with a stricter, unified rule aimed at reducing fire risks linked to lithium-ion batteries.
Several South Korean airlines had already begun banning the in-flight use of power banks, starting with Eastar Jet in October last year. The new rules formalize those measures at the international level.
Authorities noted that some countries, including Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, have already implemented tighter restrictions, and advised travelers to check with airlines before departure due to possible variations in enforcement.
The ministry said it is revising its domestic regulations in line with the updated international standards and is working with airlines and airport operators to minimize confusion during implementation. Training for personnel and updates to passenger guidance materials are expected to be completed before full enforcement.
The push for stricter regulation follows growing concerns over in-flight battery fires, including an incident involving an Air Busan aircraft in January last year. South Korea subsequently introduced interim measures restricting the number of power banks and banning their storage in overhead bins.
Officials said the absence of a unified global standard had led to inconsistent rules across countries and airlines, creating confusion for international travelers and complicating safety enforcement.
The newly adopted provisions, incorporated into ICAO’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284), are designed to limit unnecessary carriage of power banks and eliminate potential ignition sources by prohibiting their use and charging during flights.
Yu Kyung-soo, director general for aviation safety policy at the ministry, said the move reflects growing concern over battery-related fire risks and emphasized the importance of international coordination in strengthening aviation safety.
