Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has tightened its lithium-battery rules: since 15 January 2026 passengers may no longer use or recharge power banks during any phase of flight. The new policy – confirmed on 25 January by industry portal Travel & Tour World – aligns the carrier with safety guidance issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) and mirrors restrictions already applied by several Asian and Middle-Eastern airlines.
Under the revised conditions, travellers may still carry up to two external battery packs in hand luggage, but the devices must remain switched off and may not be connected to other electronics on board. Power banks between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require pre-approval from SWISS, while batteries above 160 Wh are prohibited entirely. Stowing power banks in checked baggage, overhead bins or seat-pockets is also forbidden; they must be kept under the seat or on the passenger’s person so crew can react swiftly if overheating occurs.
Keeping paperwork in order is another piece of the travel-readiness puzzle. VisaHQ can streamline the process by letting passengers flying to or from Switzerland check visa requirements, submit applications online and track approvals in one dashboard—visit https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/ for details—so complying with SWISS’s battery rules becomes just one more box ticked before departure.
![SWISS bans in-flight use and charging of power banks from 15 January 2026]()
The airline cites a growing number of cabin fires linked to poorly manufactured lithium-ion cells as the driver for the ban. FOCA data show that smoke incidents involving personal electronic devices rose 22 percent last year, and that power banks accounted for almost half of all cases. By eliminating in-flight charging – when batteries are most likely to generate heat – SWISS aims to reduce the risk of thermal runaway at cruising altitude, where emergency response options are limited.
For business travellers the move demands new power-management habits. Executives flying between Zurich, Geneva or Basel and long-haul destinations will need to fully charge laptops and phones before boarding, rely on seat-power outlets where available, or schedule work requiring high battery drain for before or after the flight. Mobility managers should update corporate travel policies, ensure employees know the watt-hour rating of their power banks and build extra lead-time into airport routines for possible security checks.
Although some passengers lament the loss of charging freedom, aviation-risk consultants note that harmonised battery rules across airlines ultimately simplify compliance. Observers expect other European carriers – particularly within the Lufthansa Group – to adopt similar language in their conditions of carriage before the 2026 summer season.
Under the revised conditions, travellers may still carry up to two external battery packs in hand luggage, but the devices must remain switched off and may not be connected to other electronics on board. Power banks between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require pre-approval from SWISS, while batteries above 160 Wh are prohibited entirely. Stowing power banks in checked baggage, overhead bins or seat-pockets is also forbidden; they must be kept under the seat or on the passenger’s person so crew can react swiftly if overheating occurs.
Keeping paperwork in order is another piece of the travel-readiness puzzle. VisaHQ can streamline the process by letting passengers flying to or from Switzerland check visa requirements, submit applications online and track approvals in one dashboard—visit https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/ for details—so complying with SWISS’s battery rules becomes just one more box ticked before departure.
The airline cites a growing number of cabin fires linked to poorly manufactured lithium-ion cells as the driver for the ban. FOCA data show that smoke incidents involving personal electronic devices rose 22 percent last year, and that power banks accounted for almost half of all cases. By eliminating in-flight charging – when batteries are most likely to generate heat – SWISS aims to reduce the risk of thermal runaway at cruising altitude, where emergency response options are limited.
For business travellers the move demands new power-management habits. Executives flying between Zurich, Geneva or Basel and long-haul destinations will need to fully charge laptops and phones before boarding, rely on seat-power outlets where available, or schedule work requiring high battery drain for before or after the flight. Mobility managers should update corporate travel policies, ensure employees know the watt-hour rating of their power banks and build extra lead-time into airport routines for possible security checks.
Although some passengers lament the loss of charging freedom, aviation-risk consultants note that harmonised battery rules across airlines ultimately simplify compliance. Observers expect other European carriers – particularly within the Lufthansa Group – to adopt similar language in their conditions of carriage before the 2026 summer season.
