Singapore Airlines and budget subsidiary Scoot ban use of power banks on flights

Singapore’s flag carrier will ban portable power banks on flights starting April 1 after batteries were suspected to have led to fires or smoke in planes.

The Singapore Air group, including budget carrier Scoot, said passengers won’t be allowed to charge power banks via onboard USB ports or use them to charge personal devices throughout a flight. Passengers must carry power banks in cabin baggage on all flights and aren’t permitted in checked luggage, the airline said in a post on X.

Inflight incidents involving batteries have been on the rise. In March, a Batik Air plane cabin filled with smoke, reportedly from a burning power bank. The US Federal Aviation Administration recorded 84 lithium battery air incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat across passenger and cargo flights last year, the most since at least 2016, reported Bloomberg.

Singapore Air’s new rule will differ from Cathay, as the Hong Kong-based carrier still allows passengers to use power banks to charge devices during flights. However, according to Cathay's website, the batteries can’t be recharged via in-seat USB ports at any time due to potential safety hazards.

Several airlines have recently implemented bans or restrictions on using power banks during flights due to safety concerns associated with lithium battery incidents. Notable examples include:

Other APAC carriers, such as Thai Airways and AirAsia, have also banned the use and charging of power banks onboard starting March 15. Passengers may still carry power banks in their hand luggage but are prohibited from using them during the flight. EVA Air and China Airlines also prohibited using portable charges onboard from March 1, 2025. Following a fire incident in January, Air Busan has also banned the storage of power banks in overhead compartments, requiring passengers to keep them on their person throughout the flight.

In the GCC, several carriers have implemented specific regulations regarding the carriage and use of power banks. Oman Air has prohibited passengers from carrying power banks when checking their baggage. However, each passenger can carry up to two power banks in their carry-on bags.

While Dubai’s Emirates permits passengers to carry power banks in their hand baggage, they have issued guidelines limiting the number of personal electronic devices (PEDs), including power banks, to a maximum of 15 per passenger. Each device should be packaged separately to prevent short circuits. Additionally, spare batteries and power banks are not allowed in checked-in luggage and must be carried in carry-on baggage.

Authorities at Dubai International Airport have reminded passengers that spare batteries and power banks are prohibited in checked-in luggage due to safety hazards. Instead, they should be packed in carry-on baggage.