DUBAI : Under the new policy, passengers traveling on the UAE’s national carrier may carry one power bank under 100 watt-hours in their cabin baggage but are strictly prohibited from using it to charge devices or recharging it via the aircraft’s power supply. The devices must be kept in seat pockets or under-seat bags throughout the flight, with overhead stowage disallowed to ensure quick access in case of emergencies.

The move follows what Emirates described as a “comprehensive safety review” after a sharp rise in passengers carrying portable chargers. The airline pointed to a growing number of lithium battery incidents worldwide. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alone has logged around 50 smoke, fire, or overheating incidents involving lithium batteries on aircraft in 2025, averaging 1.4 per week. Last month, the FAA issued a safety alert warning carriers of the dangers of “thermal runaway”, a chain reaction in which overheated batteries ignite uncontrollably.

Emirates now joins a dozen other major airlines, including Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, Korean Air, EVA Air, Thai Airways, and Southwest Airlines, that have introduced similar restrictions this year. While smartphones and laptops generally contain protective charging systems, many budget power banks lack safeguards, increasing the risk of overheating, explosions, or the release of toxic fumes.

“Most phones and sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal trickle system to prevent overcharging, but many basic power banks may not have this safeguard,” Emirates explained in its review. The airline emphasized that confined aircraft cabins make such incidents especially hazardous, as traditional halon fire extinguishers cannot halt thermal runaway. Crews instead require large volumes of water to cool batteries and prevent re-ignition.

The carrier added that it already offers in-seat charging options across its fleet and encouraged passengers to fully charge their devices before boarding, especially on long-haul journeys.

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