Japan is preparing new restrictions for air travelers that would prohibit the use of power banks during flights starting in April.
What Would Change for Passengers
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has notified domestic airlines of plans to ban the use of portable power banks in aircraft cabins. The restriction would apply both to charging personal devices from external batteries and to recharging the batteries themselves using onboard power outlets.
Passengers would still be allowed to bring power banks on board. Each traveler could carry up to two devices in carry-on baggage. A complete ban on transporting power banks is not under consideration.
Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau said the final decision is still under discussion. An official announcement is expected by the end of March, with the new rules tentatively set to take effect in April 2026.
Why the Rules Are Tightening
The move follows several recent incidents involving lithium-ion batteries on aircraft. In recent months, there have been multiple cases of smoke and small fires linked to portable batteries in the cabin.
In October 2025, an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Incheon made an emergency landing in Shanghai after a fire broke out in an overhead bin. According to the airline, a lithium battery in a passenger’s carry-on bag caused the incident.
That same month, a portable battery began smoking on an ANA flight from Naha to Tokyo. The situation was quickly contained, and the aircraft continued to its destination.
Japan previously required passengers to keep power banks within sight during flights and banned them from checked baggage. Devices with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or more are prohibited in both checked and carry-on baggage.
The proposed measures are intended to reduce fire risks and strengthen oversight of lithium-ion battery use onboard aircraft.