In a new safety-focused move, the United Nations aviation body said the number of portable rechargeable battery packs - commonly known as power banks - will be restricted to two per passenger on aircraft, effective on Friday. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) made the declaration in a formal statement and additionally said passengers would be barred from recharging power banks while airborne.
ICAO, based in Montreal, typically develops global aviation standards that are largely endorsed by its 193-member states. In its announcement the agency described these specifications for power banks as effective immediately, placing a new operational constraint on the carriage and in-flight use of the devices.
The move follows steps already taken by some carriers and national authorities. Airlines such as the Lufthansa Group and countries like South Korea had been rolling out limits on power bank carriage and usage on flights after safety incidents, including a fire on an Air Busan plane in 2025, prompted closer scrutiny of portable batteries.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration was not immediately available for comment on the ICAO specifications.
For passengers, the requirement sets a clear ceiling on how many power banks can be brought aboard and removes the option to recharge them during the flight. For airlines and regulators, the announcement provides a single technical specification from ICAO, which often serves as the basis for national and carrier-level policy, though the statement did not include further operational guidance or enforcement details.
Because ICAO described the new specifications as effective immediately while also noting the limit takes effect on Friday, the statement establishes both an expedited regulatory posture and a short window for carriers and authorities to align procedures with the new rules.
The agency's announcement reiterates the intersection of passenger behavior, in-cabin procedures, and safety oversight in the wake of battery-related incidents. It also reflects a continuing trend of carriers and some national authorities limiting the in-flight use of portable batteries prior to a single global clarification from the international body.
Reporting note: The statement and the information cited originate from ICAO's announcement; the FAA was not available for comment at the time ICAO issued its specifications.