Asian Airlines Tighten Power Bank Regulations

Asian airlines, including AirAsia and Vietnamese carriers Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, along with Hong Kong's aviation authorities, have implemented stricter regulations regarding the use of power banks on flights due to safety concerns. Effective April 7, passengers must keep power banks in visible locations, refrain from charging devices during flights, and adhere to specific watt-hour and milliampere-hour limits. These measures align with global aviation safety standards to mitigate risks associated with lithium batteries, which have increasingly caused fire and smoke incidents on planes. The rules prevent power banks from being stored in overhead compartments and require airline approval for larger capacity batteries. These changes reflect a regional trend of tightening airline safety regulations concerning lithium batteries.