Japan Limits the Number of Power Banks That Can Be Carried on Commercial Flights

JAKARTA - The Japanese government will limit the number of power banks that can be brought onto commercial aircraft to two units per passenger following a fire or smoke incident involving the battery, according to a government official announcement on Tuesday.

Minister of Transportation Yasushi Kaneko said at a press conference that the new regulation will be enforced starting April 24, which effectively also prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge their devices during flights, reported Kyodo News (16/4).

In addition, passengers are also prohibited from charging power banks from the electrical outlet on the plane.

These stricter regulations are in line with the restrictions on power banks set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which was set by the UN body in March to protect airlines amid the risks posed by passenger-owned lithium batteries.

The Japanese Ministry of Transportation also stated that power banks with a capacity of more than 160 watt-hours are not allowed to be brought onto the plane.

Passengers are encouraged to charge their mobile devices directly from the electrical outlet on the plane or at the airport.

In July last year, the Japanese government began urging passengers to keep power banks near them on board the plane, rather than storing them in the overhead baggage compartment. It is known that portable chargers are not allowed to be put in the registered baggage of the flight.