Japan is introducing stricter aviation safety regulations, including a ban on power bank use on flights and clearer limits on how many passengers can carry. The new policy, confirmed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, will take effect in April 2026 and apply to all flights departing from or arriving in Japan.
Key Changes
Under the updated rules:
- Passengers will no longer allowed access to power bank use on flights. This means devices like phones and tablets cannot charged with portable batteries during flights.
- Restrictions on the number and size of batteries passengers can carry will remain largely unchanged.
Current and Future Guidelines
Until the ban is fully implement, the following rules apply:
- Batteries over 160 watt-hours are strictly prohibit.
- Passengers may carry up to two batteries between 100 and 160 watt-hours.
- Unlimited batteries under 100 watt-hours allowed.
The upcoming policy will not significantly change these carriage limits but will prohibit power bank use on flights entirely. Airlines, both Japanese and international, have informed and will oversee enforcement.
Why the Change?
The decision aligns with safety discussions at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which has already banned charging portable batteries in aircraft cabins and is working on broader global guidelines.
Authorities cite a sharp rise in lithium-ion battery incidents as a key driver for the new rules. Data from Japan’s National Institute of Technology and Evaluation shows 123 battery-related accidents in 2024, up from 47 in 2020. Many of these incidents involved devices overheating while charging.
