Power banks are causing flight delays — latest rules for easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air and more

Today is the busiest day of the year for UK airports (Picture: Getty Images) With schools in England and Wales officially out for summer, today will be the busiest flying day of the year as over 550,000 people jet off. But passengers have been told to pack carefully before they do. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued a warning about summer flights being delayed by wrongly packed electrical gadgets, such as vapes and power banks. The regulator predicts that some 30 million passengers will leave the UK in July and August, taking millions of rechargeable gadgets into the skies with them. But items like power banks must not be placed in checked-in luggage stowed in the aircraft hold, the CAA says. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Instead, they must be taken into the cabin as hand luggage, so that something can be done if they start to overheat. Even before the peak summer travel season, incorrectly packed lithium batteries have been causing delays and cancellations due to bags having to be off-loaded. And, even worse, if a fire breaks out onboard, flights may have to be rerouted or evacuated. Earlier this year, an easyJet flight was forced to divert after a passenger left their charging bank inside their suitcase. The EZY2618 flight from Hurghada, Egypt, was due to land in London Luton, but changed course, and touched down in Rome, Italy, instead. The flight took off from Hurghada, Egypt, before it was diverted (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The airline said the captain decided to divert ‘in line with safety regulations’ after a passenger onboard told cabin crew that they’d left the portable charger in their suitcase, which was in the hold of the aircraft. A easyJet spokesperson told Metro: ‘The safety of its customers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ guidelines. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the diversion and subsequent delay.’ From Singapore Airlines and American Airlines to Lufthansa and Emirates, several airlines have been cracking down on the use of portable chargers on planes — either banning them altogether or limiting them per passenger But if you’re in the middle of packing your suitcase for a summer break — you might be getting a little confused about what you can (or can’t) take on your flight with you. Let’s unpack (sorry) the latest rules… EasyJet Power banks that do not exceed a Wh rating of 160Wh are allowed on board EasyJet flights. They must be kept in your cabin baggage, and can not go in the hold. However, you can’t actually use them during your flight, and they must be ‘individually protected’. EasyJet recommends placing them in the packaging they came in, or in a plastic bag. Ideally, you should also store them where you can see them. Power banks are limited to two per customer. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? No. Ryanair Ryanair are slightly more generous in their rules than other airlines. Passengers may carry up to 15 personal electronic devices on board, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and cameras. You can also carry up to 20 spare lithium batteries or power banks, as long as they don’t exceed 100Wh each. Ryanair is a little more generous (Picture: Getty Images) They must be in your small cabin baggage, placed under the seat in front of you, and while you can use them on board, they must not be used to charge devices during taxi, take-off or landing. Again, power banks should be individually wrapped. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? Yes. Wizz Air According to Wizz Air’s website: ‘Each person is limited to a maximum of 20 spare batteries, including maximum one power bank.’ They cannot actually be used on the flight, and power banks exceeding 100Wh are forbidden. The airline also pretty firmly states that power banks again need to stay in your hand luggage: ‘Don’t put spare batteries in your checked-in baggage!’ The website also states that the chargers can’t be placed in overhead compartments, instead staying they ‘should be carried where they can be monitored i.e. on the person’. Again, the airline says the devices need to be individually protected to avoid any short circuits. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? No. Jet2 Travellers are limited to 2 power banks each on a Jet2 flight, and they can’t exceed more than 160Wh. They must becarried in hand luggage, which is placed under the seat. The Jet2 website states that power banks ‘should not be used in-flight’, while also stating power banks ‘must not be used to charge or power any portable electronic devices during taxi, take off, and landing.’ So to be on the safe side, it might be better to keep them firmly in your hand luggage (individually protected) until you disembark. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? No. You can’t charge your bank on board a BA flight (Picture: Getty Images) British Airways Power banks are ‘forbidden’ in checked baggage and must be carried in hand luggage. When you board, they need to go in a bag under the seat in front of you, or in your seat pocket. Like other airlines, they also need to be ‘individually protected’. BA also warn that if your your cabin bag is checked in or removed at the gate for whatever reason, and then placed in the hold, you need to make sure you remove your power banks and carry them with you onto the plane. There’s a two power bank limit in place, and each bank needs to display the Wh rating (they can’t exceed more than 100Wh). The airline also warns that you can’t charge your power bank on board using the outlets on the plane. You can only charge personal devices, such as your phone or headphones. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? Yes. Virgin Atlantic Richard Branson’s Virgin allows you to take five power banks on board your flight, under 100Wh. They must be in your hand luggage, and you can’t use them at any time on board — whether that’s to charge the power bank itself, or to top up other devices. This also means you can’t use the in-seat power supply to do so. Virgin also has some rules about the power bank itself. They must be ‘in good condition with no signs of damage’, and need to be able to fit into their onboard Fire Containment Bag in the event of an emergency — the measurements must not exceed 37 × 28 × 10cm. They also need to be individually packed to avoid short circuits. They can’t be placed in the overhead locker, and need to be accessible throughout the flight. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? No. Lufthansa were the first European airline to ban them (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images) Lufthansa Lufthansa became the first European airline to ban the use of power banks on board its aircraft in January. Passengers are prohibited from charging their electronic devices, such as mobile phones or tablets, from a power bank during a flight. This include charging the power bank itself from the aircraft’s electrical power supply. Power banks may also not be placed in the overhead lockers. Instead, they must be kept on the passenger’s person or stowed in the seat pocket or in their carry-on baggage under the seat in front. Power banks remain prohibited in checked baggage. Lufthansa has also stated that a maximum of two power banks may be brought aboard per passenger – with the maximum battery power permitted being 100 watt-hours. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? No. Emirates cracked down after an incident on board (Picture: Getty Images) Emirates After a flight bound for Amsterdam filled with smoke when a power bank ignited, Emirates cracked down on their power bank rules. All Emirates customers may now carry only one power bank onboard, which cannot be used to charge any electronics during the journey, and cannot be charged themselves using the power source from the seat. The charger must be under 100Wh (and the rating must be clearly visible on the bank), and it must go in the seat pocket in front of you, or in your bag under the seat. Cabin Baggage? Yes.Checked luggage? No.Used on board? 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