Australia’s four largest carriers—Qantas, QantasLink, Jetstar and Virgin Australia—will prohibit passengers from using or charging portable power banks on all domestic and international flights next month. Virgin’s embargo begins on 1 December, while the Qantas Group follows on 15 December. Each traveller may still carry up to two power banks not exceeding 160 Wh (Virgin requires pre-approval for units between 100 Wh and 160 Wh), but devices must remain switched off and stored where cabin crew can reach them quickly.
The airlines say the policy, announced on 21 November, aligns with draft guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organization after more than 500 global incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in the past five years. It follows two Australian fires this year: a mid-air blaze aboard a Virgin 737 and a Qantas Club incident in which a passenger suffered burns when a battery ignited in his pocket.
![Australian airlines ban on-board use of power banks from December in major lithium-battery safety push]()
For corporate mobility teams the ban raises practical issues. Travellers reliant on phones for two-factor authentication or e-gates will need to board with fully charged devices or use in-seat USB outlets. Organisations should also update travel policies to clarify that spare laptop batteries count toward the two-unit limit and must remain in hand-carry luggage. Smart-bag owners must remove batteries before check-in or risk denied boarding.
Travel insurers are reviewing wording around ‘hazardous goods’, and some risk-management platforms have begun flagging itineraries that include connecting flights on carriers with different thresholds (for example, Cathay Pacific limits each power bank to 20 000 mAh regardless of watt-hours). Frequent-flyer lounges at major hubs will add charging lockers in time for the summer peak, but regional airports may lag, so travellers should plan for reduced inflight charging capability.
The airlines say the policy, announced on 21 November, aligns with draft guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organization after more than 500 global incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in the past five years. It follows two Australian fires this year: a mid-air blaze aboard a Virgin 737 and a Qantas Club incident in which a passenger suffered burns when a battery ignited in his pocket.
For corporate mobility teams the ban raises practical issues. Travellers reliant on phones for two-factor authentication or e-gates will need to board with fully charged devices or use in-seat USB outlets. Organisations should also update travel policies to clarify that spare laptop batteries count toward the two-unit limit and must remain in hand-carry luggage. Smart-bag owners must remove batteries before check-in or risk denied boarding.
Travel insurers are reviewing wording around ‘hazardous goods’, and some risk-management platforms have begun flagging itineraries that include connecting flights on carriers with different thresholds (for example, Cathay Pacific limits each power bank to 20 000 mAh regardless of watt-hours). Frequent-flyer lounges at major hubs will add charging lockers in time for the summer peak, but regional airports may lag, so travellers should plan for reduced inflight charging capability.
