Japan Imposes New Restrictions Banning Power Bank Use During Flights

According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Japan’s Ministry of Transport is enacting stricter rules for portable electronic charging devices on domestic flights, commencing this April. The new regulations explicitly ban the use of power banks to charge personal electronic devices and prohibit passengers from charging these external batteries while the aircraft is in flight.

Despite the usage ban, airline passengers will retain the allowance to carry a maximum of two power banks with them into the aircraft cabin. An official from Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau confirmed that the proposal remains under review, with final determinations expected by the end of March.

These restrictions follow previous guidance issued by the Ministry of Transport less than a year ago, which mandated that passengers must keep their external batteries visible to crew members. Furthermore, existing rules already forbid carrying power banks or any batteries with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or greater in checked baggage or carry-on luggage.

The move comes in response to multiple worldwide aviation incidents linked to portable lithium batteries. For instance, in October, an Air China flight traveling from Hangzhou to Incheon was forced to make an emergency landing in Shanghai after a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on bag caught fire.

Japan Times also reported that in the same month, a power bank began emitting smoke aboard an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight from Naha to Tokyo. While the fire was contained, allowing the flight to continue to its destination, the incident underscores ongoing safety concerns regarding these devices in the air.