New Power Bank Rules 2026: What’s Allowed on the Plane

From March 27, 2026, new worldwide rules apply to power banks and spare lithium batteries on board aircraft – introduced by ICAO and tightened further by carriers flying from Košice. A power bank up to 100 Wh needs no approval from the carrier; between 100 and 160 Wh approval is required and a maximum of two units is allowed; above 160 Wh it is banned outright. It always belongs in cabin baggage, never in checked baggage. Ryanair and Wizz Air also specify exactly where the power bank must be stored during the flight and when it may not be used.

What changes from March 27, 2026

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has approved new specifications for lithium-based power banks, which took effect on March 27, 2026. This is the first coordinated international standard for portable battery limits in civil aviation. The main changes: passengers may carry only a limited number of power banks, may not charge them during the flight, and the power bank must remain exclusively in cabin baggage. The change responds to a growing number of incidents involving lithium batteries on board aircraft in recent years.

Watt-hour limits: what is allowed and what is not

The capacity of a power bank is stated in watt-hours (Wh), and it is this figure that determines what you may bring on board:

up to 100 Wh – allowed without carrier approval,
100–160 Wh – allowed only with carrier approval, maximum two spare batteries of this capacity per person,
above 160 Wh – banned outright on board a passenger aircraft.

Power banks and spare lithium batteries never belong in checked baggage – regardless of capacity, they must always stay with the passenger in the cabin. If you’re planning a flight from Košice, it’s worth checking the Wh rating of your power bank at home, and contacting the carrier in advance if in doubt.

How to calculate the Wh of your power bank

Most power banks show their capacity in milliampere-hours (mAh) on the packaging, not in watt-hours. The conversion is simple: Wh = mAh ÷ 1,000 × voltage (typically 3.7 V for common power banks). In practice, this means:

a 10,000 mAh power bank ≈ 37 Wh,
a 20,000 mAh power bank ≈ 74 Wh,
a 27,000 mAh power bank ≈ nearly 100 Wh – just under the threshold that manufacturers often deliberately target with this capacity.

The exact Wh figure should be printed directly on the power bank. If it is missing or illegible, many carriers will not allow the battery on board because they cannot verify its capacity.

Ryanair and Wizz Air rules from Košice

Košice Airport is served by, among others, Ryanair and Wizz Air, both of which have their own, more detailed rules that go beyond the general ICAO and IATA framework. According to help.ryanair.com, spare lithium batteries and power banks must be kept with the passenger or in the under-seat baggage stored under the seat in front – never in baggage placed in the overhead bin. The power bank must not be charged during the flight (for example, one power bank charging another) and must not be used to charge devices during taxiing, take-off and landing, or when instructed by the crew. According to wizzair.com, Wizz Air allows power banks up to 100 Wh, which must remain somewhere the passenger can keep an eye on throughout the flight, must not be charged on board, and likewise may never be placed in checked baggage. Before departure, it’s therefore worth checking the current flight schedule and your flight status in the arrivals and departures section, where notices about changes to cabin baggage rules may also appear.

Other electronics and checked baggage

Similar restrictions apply to other electronics with lithium batteries. E-cigarettes and vapes are banned outright from checked baggage – like separate spare batteries, they must stay in the cabin, since e-cigarettes are among the most common causes of battery overheating incidents on board. Laptops, tablets and similar devices are generally safer to carry in cabin baggage rather than checked baggage. Personal transport devices with lithium batteries, such as hoverboards or self-balancing boards, typically have a battery capacity above 100 Wh, which is why many carriers do not accept them at all – neither as checked nor as cabin baggage. If you’re planning to travel with such a device, check the conditions with the specific carrier in advance.

Security checks at Košice Airport

At the security check at Košice Airport, expect that electronic devices are usually removed from carry-on baggage and X-rayed separately – this applies especially to laptops, power banks and larger electronic devices. Keep your power bank and spare batteries within easy reach rather than packed at the bottom of your suitcase, which will make the check easier for you as well. If you’re still planning your flight from Košice Airport, you’ll find an overview of connections in the destinations section and current offers under promotional tickets. When organizing your trip to the airport, it’s also worth arranging parking or transport to the airport in advance. More frequently asked questions about carry-on and checked baggage can be found in the FAQ section.

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