The safety measures will apply to all domestic and international services, with no exemptions to be granted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we head into the travel season, here’s what you need to know.<\/p>\n
What are the restrictions, and why are they being introduced?<\/p>\n
While travellers can continue to carry portable power banks on flights, they will no longer be able to use them.<\/p>\n
Those looking to recharge handheld devices such as mobile phones, or laptops and headphones can do so using in-seat USB charging ports, where available. Power banks themselves, however, cannot be charged via the ports.<\/p>\n
Passengers will also be required to store power banks where they are easily reachable \u2014 under the seat in front, seat pocket or with passengers themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Qantas will permit them to be stored in a nearby overhead locker, however, Virgin will not.<\/p>\n
Here’s a full breakdown:<\/p>\n
\u00a0Qantas \/ Jetstar \/ QantasLink\u00a0Virgin Australia\u00a0Effective Date\u00a0December 15, 2025\u00a0December 1, 2025\u00a0On-board Use\u00a0Prohibited\u00a0Prohibited\u00a0Charging on Board\u00a0Prohibited, including in-seat USB\/power ports\u00a0Prohibited; passengers may use in-seat power for other devices\u00a0Maximum Number of Power Banks\u00a0Two per passenger\u00a0Two per passenger\u00a0Maximum Capacity\u00a0160 Wh per power bank\u00a0Up to 100 Wh unrestricted; 100\u2013160 Wh require airline approval; >160 Wh prohibited\u00a0Storage\u00a0Seat pocket, under seat, or nearby overhead locker; smart bag batteries must be removed\u00a0Must be easily accessible (seat pocket, under seat, or on person); not in overhead locker\u00a0Checked Baggage\u00a0Prohibited\u00a0Prohibited\u00a0<\/p>\n
The airlines say the new rules follow similar safety measures introduced by carriers globally, and seek to minimise risks associated with defective lithium battery-powered devices.<\/p>\n
“While these items are generally safe when packed and handled appropriately, this move will minimise any potential risks associated with these devices,” Virgin Australia chief operations officer Chris Snook said.<\/p>\n
Will airlines retrofit more in-flight chargers?<\/p>\n
Passengers can plug their devices directly into the USB charging ports available behind plane seats to offset the power bank ban.<\/p>\n
Virgin and Qantas ban use of portable power banks<\/a><\/p>\n Virgin Australia and Qantas will ban the use of portable power banks from next month following a string of international incidents.<\/p>\n Virgin says it has in-seat power on all seats in 88 per cent of its Boeing 737 fleet, with the remaining aircraft to be fully equipped with in-seat power by June next year.<\/p>\n All of Virgin Australia’s Embraer 190-E2 aircraft \u2014 used mainly on charter and regional services \u2014 have already been fitted with in-seat power.<\/p>\n The vast majority of Qantas planes are already equipped with in-seat charging.<\/p>\n However, its budget subsidiary Jetstar does not have the facility, except on some larger Boeing 787 jets that fly to destinations such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand.<\/p>\n Those flying on short domestic flights should seek to have their devices charged up prior to boarding.<\/p>\n What if I have a medical condition? Are there exemptions?<\/p>\n No power banks are exempt from the regulations announced by Virgin and Qantas Group on Friday, including for passengers with medical needs.<\/p>\n Battery-powered portable medical devices can still be carried in the cabin as per regular airline policies, though they cannot be charged on board.<\/p>\n Virgin customers are allowed to bring up to two spare batteries with a maximum capacity of 160 watt-hours, which must be declared during check-in.<\/p>\n Qantas was contacted for comment on exemptions.<\/p>\n Can power banks be carried in your luggage, just not used?\u00a0<\/p>\n Yes, travellers can carry up to two power banks in their cabin bags, but cannot use them for the duration of the flight.<\/p>\n Qantas and Jetstar will allow power banks up to a maximum capacity of 160Wh, with their battery specifications needing to be clearly displayed.<\/p>\n Virgin will allow devices up to 100Wh, but requires customers to obtain prior approval from the airline for power banks between 100 and 160Wh.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, all sizes of power banks remain prohibited from check-in baggage, as is standard practice for airlines around the world.<\/p>\n Why are power banks on planes risky?\u00a0<\/p>\n Portable electronics are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are highly flammable and create fires with re-ignition tendencies.<\/p>\n They are most likely to ignite or explode when in use, or when damaged or defective.<\/p>\n aviation safety researcher and former pilot Natasha Heap says forbidding passengers from using power banks reduces the risk of in-flight fires enormously, and requiring them to be stored within reach means a fire can be noticed early and dealt with.<\/p>\n A button battery, which is a type of lithium-ion battery, is found in many everyday electronic devices. (Australian Story: Anthony Sines)<\/p>\n “A cabin fire on board an airliner is about the most serious emergency both pilots and cabin crew can face,” Ms Heap told the ABC.<\/p>\n “For example \u2026 a fire on [Swissair Flight 111 on September 2, 1998] started in the cockpit ceiling due to faulty wires \u2026 then the aircraft crashed 17 minutes later due to uncontained fire. All on board were killed.\u00a0<\/p>\n “This was not a power bank fire, but it illustrates how quickly a normal flight can deteriorate into a disaster when fire is involved.”<\/p>\n Lithium fires also “burn super-hot” and may be difficult to extinguish, Ms Heap said.<\/p>\n Advice from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) states that for carriage by passengers, power banks are considered spare batteries and must be individually protected from short-circuiting.<\/p>\n To reduce the risks of batteries short-circuiting, the IATA recommends:<\/p>\n Packing each battery, or each battery-powered device when practicable, in fully enclosed inner packagings made of non-conductive material (such as a plastic bag)Separating or packing batteries in a manner to prevent contact with other batteries, devices or conductive materials (e.g. metal) in the packagingEnsuring exposed terminals or connectors are protected with non-conductive caps, non-conductive tape, or by other appropriate meansDo power banks pose a risk in non-airline environments too?<\/p>\n Fires related to lithium batteries, which are found widely in electronics, have seen a significant increase across Australia, with up to 12,000 incidents recorded last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the consumer watchdog, lithium battery fires spiked 92 per cent between 2020 and 2022.<\/p>\n Loading…<\/p>\n Lithium fires have been caused not just by power banks but a range of other household items, including laptops, mobile phones, vacuum cleaners and tools.<\/p>\n Low-quality e-bikes and scooters have also contributed to a spate of fires<\/a>, including one in Sydney in February last year, in which a man died.<\/p>\n Experts say most incidents are preventable as they are caused by the overheating of devices or when they are stored near flammable fibres and in a hot environment.<\/p>\n There are no statistics pointing specifically to how many lithium fires have been associated with power bank usage nationally.<\/p>\n How many fires have power banks caused?<\/p>\n Power banks have been linked to at least five in-flight fires since 2016, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.<\/p>\n Airlines change rules after South Korean plane fire<\/a><\/p>\n A fire that destroyed a South Korean plane prompts closer examination of lithium-ion battery safety, with some airlines starting to change their rules.<\/p>\n Most recently, a blaze broke out in an overhead compartment of a Virgin flight from Sydney to Hobart in July<\/a>. It was suspected to have been caused by an overheated lithium battery.<\/p>\n Virgin and the Qantas Group both launched internal safety reviews following that incident and many other international cases.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n