Effective immediately, passengers on SWISS and leisure sister carrier Edelweiss may take only two powerbanks on board, both of which must remain in hand-luggage and may no longer be used for in-flight charging. The airlines, part of Lufthansa Group, published the new rule on 17 January after two smoke incidents linked to lithium-ion battery packs on short-haul flights earlier this winter.
Powerbanks up to 100 Wh remain allowed without prior approval; units between 100 Wh and 160 Wh now require written airline consent, while anything larger is banned. Cabin crew have been instructed to visually check devices during boarding, and gate agents will enforce the “two-pack” rule.
![SWISS & Edelweiss Limit Passengers to Two Powerbanks Each in Cabin Amid Battery-Fire Concerns]()
While checking that your gadgets meet the new limits, make sure your travel paperwork does too. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) streamlines visa applications and keeps a pulse on the latest travel regulations—offering a one-stop resource for updates like these powerbank restrictions before you head to the airport.
The change brings SWISS in line with Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, which already cap personal battery packs. Mobility managers should alert frequent travellers who rely on multiple high-capacity powerbanks for long-haul productivity, and ensure that corporate travel guidelines are updated. Travellers carrying spare laptop batteries should verify watt-hour ratings to avoid confiscation.
Failure to comply may result in the device being left behind or, in extreme cases, denied boarding. Travellers transferring in Zurich should remember that any powerbank found in checked baggage will be removed by security staff and destroyed.
Powerbanks up to 100 Wh remain allowed without prior approval; units between 100 Wh and 160 Wh now require written airline consent, while anything larger is banned. Cabin crew have been instructed to visually check devices during boarding, and gate agents will enforce the “two-pack” rule.
While checking that your gadgets meet the new limits, make sure your travel paperwork does too. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) streamlines visa applications and keeps a pulse on the latest travel regulations—offering a one-stop resource for updates like these powerbank restrictions before you head to the airport.
The change brings SWISS in line with Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, which already cap personal battery packs. Mobility managers should alert frequent travellers who rely on multiple high-capacity powerbanks for long-haul productivity, and ensure that corporate travel guidelines are updated. Travellers carrying spare laptop batteries should verify watt-hour ratings to avoid confiscation.
Failure to comply may result in the device being left behind or, in extreme cases, denied boarding. Travellers transferring in Zurich should remember that any powerbank found in checked baggage will be removed by security staff and destroyed.
