Japan to Keep Power Banks Out of Aircraft Overhead Bins From July 8

A New Cabin Rule for Japan's 23 Airlines

Passengers flying with Japan's 23 airlines, including All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), will be asked to keep power banks out of overhead compartments from July 8, 2025. The portable batteries must remain in plain sight so cabin crew can quickly spot overheating, smoke or other signs of trouble.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) announced the change amid growing concern about fires involving lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. The policy covers domestic and international flights operated by Japanese airlines and brings Japan into a wider effort to tighten the storage and use of portable chargers during flights.

As of July 4, the new arrangements are due to begin in four days. Although described as new safety regulations, the rule is not legally binding. Airlines are working with the transport ministry to secure compliance and tell passengers what will be expected during booking, check-in and boarding.

Power banks have become common travel accessories because they let passengers recharge phones and other devices away from a wall socket. Their usefulness comes with a safety concern: the lithium-ion cells inside can overheat, catch fire or explode if they are damaged, overcharged or poorly manufactured.

Japan's approach focuses on visibility. A battery hidden in an overhead bag may develop a problem before anyone notices. Keeping it within reach gives passengers and crew a better chance to identify a malfunction quickly and respond before smoke or fire spreads through the cabin.

The change also requires travelers to think about where they charge their devices. Under the new policy, charging must take place where the power bank can be monitored by cabin crew, rather than inside luggage stored above the seats.

Why a Small Battery Can Become a Serious Problem

Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy for their size and can be recharged repeatedly. Those qualities make them useful in portable chargers, smartphones and other electronics. The same concentration of energy can become dangerous when a cell malfunctions.

A damaged battery, an electrical short circuit or excessive heat can trigger a process called thermal runaway. In simple terms, the battery begins heating rapidly and may release smoke or ignite. In an aircraft cabin, where people sit close together and space is limited, even a small fire can threaten passenger safety.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 81 events involving lithium batteries on aircraft in 2024, an average of 1.6 per week. The figure was 32 in 2016. Portable chargers were the most common devices involved, followed by electronic cigarettes and other equipment powered by batteries.

International aviation rules already prohibit lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage because a fire in the cargo hold could remain unnoticed until it becomes critical. The newer restrictions concentrate on the passenger cabin, where a visible battery gives crew a chance to detect a problem and intervene.

What Passengers Will Be Expected to Do

Japanese airlines will require passengers to keep power banks on their person or in an easily accessible place throughout the flight. A seat pocket or a passenger's lap are examples of locations where the device can remain within reach and under observation.

The policy combines storage restrictions with capacity limits and requirements concerning the condition of the battery:

• Do not put power banks in overhead compartments or checked baggage.
• Keep them visible and accessible throughout the flight.
• Charge devices only where cabin crew can monitor the power bank.
• Carry no more than two power banks rated between 100 and 160 watt-hours (Wh) each.
• Do not bring power banks exceeding 160Wh.
• Make sure devices are undamaged and, where applicable, certified by the relevant safety authorities.

The limit of two applies to power banks in the stated capacity range. Most ordinary consumer power banks have capacities below 100Wh. Passengers should check the rating of the model they own rather than assume that every portable charger falls into the same category.

The Incidents Behind the Safety Push

A fire on an Air Busan aircraft at South Korea's Gimhae International Airport in January 2025 was a major catalyst for tighter controls. Several people were injured, and all passengers and crew were evacuated. Investigators found the charred remains of a power bank near the rear luggage compartment.

South Korea subsequently banned power banks from overhead bins and required passengers to keep them within reach. Other incidents during the following months reinforced concerns about portable batteries:

• January 2025: The Air Busan fire at Gimhae International Airport led to an evacuation and tighter South Korean storage rules.
• February 2025: Smoke filled the cabin of a Batik Air flight traveling to Bangkok, reportedly from a burning power bank. No injuries were reported.
• April 2025: A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Tokyo made an emergency landing after a power bank fire. Quick action by cabin crew prevented serious harm.
• July 8, 2025: Japan's new restrictions on overhead storage are scheduled to begin across its 23 airlines.

The FAA has also documented dozens of incidents in the United States in which portable batteries overheated or caught fire. Some required emergency landings or diversions. Together, the events have increased attention on how passengers carry batteries and how quickly crew can reach them.

How Rules Are Changing Across Asia

South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and China are among the countries that have introduced restrictions on power bank storage or use during flights. Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, AirAsia and Cathay Pacific updated their policies during 2024 and 2025 as concern about battery fires grew.

South Korea's approach closely resembles Japan's new storage policy: passengers must keep power banks on their person and out of overhead bins. Singapore Airlines and Scoot went further on use, banning both the use and charging of power banks during flights from April 2025.

China's Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) prohibits power banks that lack certification or are subject to recalls. Charging devices with power banks onboard has been banned there since 2014. China also requires the China Compulsory Certification mark, known as CCC, for power banks brought onboard.

For a passenger connecting between countries, these differences matter. A charger that can be carried on one flight may still be subject to restrictions on use during another. Japan's policy allows charging where the battery can be monitored, while Singapore Airlines and Scoot prohibit that activity during flight.

How Japan Compares With Western Aviation Rules

Japan's policy aligns closely with international aviation safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The shared aim is to reduce battery fire risks, though countries and airlines apply different storage and charging requirements.

In the United States, FAA rules require lithium-ion batteries, including power banks, to travel in hand luggage. Devices exceeding 160Wh are banned, and crew are trained to identify batteries that do not comply with the rules. Southwest Airlines is among the carriers that updated battery policies during 2024 and 2025.

Transport Canada applies similar guidance, with strict limits on battery capacity and a prohibition on lithium batteries in checked baggage. Those requirements share Japan's focus on keeping portable batteries away from places where a fire could be difficult to notice or reach.

European policies vary. Many airlines require passengers to remove lithium batteries from devices before putting bags in overhead storage, and Ryanair enforces that policy strictly. Travelers therefore need to check the rules of the airline operating each flight, rather than rely on a single assumption for an entire journey.

Japan's change forms part of an international effort to bring safety standards closer together and reduce confusion. For now, restrictions still differ between countries and carriers, particularly over whether passengers may use a power bank while airborne.

Understanding the Watt-hour Limit

Watt-hours measure how much energy a battery can store. A power bank with a higher Wh rating contains more energy, which means a malfunction can produce a more severe fire. The capacity limits are intended to control that risk.

Most consumer power banks are well below 100Wh. Larger models intended to charge laptops or several devices can approach or exceed that threshold. Under Japan's stated limits, passengers may carry up to two power banks rated between 100Wh and 160Wh each, while devices above 160Wh are prohibited.

The rating should appear on the device's label. Travelers should check it before packing, especially if they use a large charger. An absent, faded or illegible label may lead to a device being confiscated or a passenger being denied boarding because its capacity cannot be checked.

Capacity and certification are separate checks. The Wh figure describes stored energy; a required certification mark addresses the device's approval under the relevant safety system. China's CCC requirement is one example of a rule travelers may encounter beyond the numerical capacity limit.

How Airlines Plan to Apply the Policy

Japanese airlines are updating digital systems, check-in kiosks and safety briefings during flights to explain the new requirements. Passengers will receive information at booking, check-in and boarding, while cabin crew are being trained to apply the policy once travelers are onboard.

Ground staff are also receiving training to identify devices that do not meet the rules. Airports are installing signs at boarding gates and baggage counters. Some airlines are considering stickers or tags for approved power banks to make security checks quicker.

During flights, crew will check that portable chargers are not stored in overhead bins and that charging remains supervised. The practical change for passengers is to separate a power bank from any bag they intend to put above their seat and keep the battery where it can be observed.

Passengers who breach the rules may face confiscation, denied boarding or fines, depending on the airline's policy and the seriousness of the violation. In extreme cases, onboard inspections or assessments of a possible fire risk could delay a flight. The new rule itself is not legally binding, so travelers should pay attention to the conditions applied by their carrier.

What to Check Before Leaving for the Airport

Travelers flying to, from or within Japan should inspect their power banks and check airline instructions before departure. Similar precautions are becoming relevant on more routes as countries and carriers revise their policies.

A practical preparation checklist covers both the device and the journey:

• Read the watt-hour rating before packing.
• Check that the power bank is undamaged.
• Confirm any certification requirement that applies to the route.
• Pack the battery in carry-on luggage, then keep it out of overhead storage during the flight.
• Keep the device within reach and under observation.
• Watch charging activity and immediately tell cabin crew about overheating or any other malfunction.
• Check current airline and airport rules for every part of the journey.

Airline and government policies can change quickly. A passenger taking several flights may encounter different rules about storage, charging and certification along the way. Checking with the airlines and airports involved before traveling helps avoid problems at security, boarding or during the flight.

What Happens When a Battery Overheats

Passengers should alert cabin crew immediately if a device becomes unusually hot or begins releasing smoke. Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are rare, but crew are trained to handle them because a rapid response can stop a small incident from becoming more dangerous.

Cabin crew can place a malfunctioning device in a thermal containment bag or submerge it in water to prevent fire from spreading. Those procedures are intended to protect passengers and limit disruption. Keeping a power bank visible helps crew identify the affected device and reach it promptly.

Keith Tonkin, managing director of Aviation Projects, an aviation consulting company, described the level of preparedness among flight crews:

Fires in plane cabins that are caused by lithium-ion batteries are rarely deadly, and flight crews are generally well prepared to deal with them.

Most incidents are resolved quickly. The possibility of serious harm still makes prevention and early detection the main priorities, which is why Japan's change concentrates on where the batteries are kept and whether charging can be observed.

Further Safety Changes Under Consideration

Aviation authorities are likely to revisit battery policies as passengers travel with more electronic devices. The current focus is on educating travelers, applying restrictions and bringing rules across borders closer together.

Some airports are already testing specialized technologies to scan batteries. Future regulations may require passengers to declare all electronic devices or show safety certifications for batteries with larger capacities. The aviation industry is also investing in joint communication campaigns, especially during busy travel seasons.

Developments in battery technology, including solid-state batteries, may eventually change aviation safety standards. For passengers preparing to travel in July 2025, the immediate task is simpler: check the device, follow the operating airline's rules and keep the power bank accessible throughout the flight.

Key Points

• Japan's overhead storage restriction begins July 8, 2025, covering domestic and international flights operated by all 23 Japanese airlines.
• Power banks must remain visible and accessible, with charging conducted where cabin crew can monitor it.
• Passengers may carry up to two power banks rated between 100Wh and 160Wh each. Devices above 160Wh are banned.
• The new rule is not legally binding, but airlines are working with MLIT to secure compliance.
• The FAA recorded 81 lithium battery events in 2024, compared with 32 in 2016.
• Storage, charging and certification requirements vary between airlines and countries.
• Passengers should immediately alert cabin crew if a battery overheats, releases smoke or otherwise malfunctions.