The five airlines under South Korea’s Hanjin Group will enforce a ban on power bank usage aboard their aircrafts starting Jan 26.
So, if you’re flying Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan or Air Seoul anytime soon, you’ll want to keep this in mind.
But remembering the ban shouldn’t be too hard, as our own local airlines have enforced this rule since last April.
In case you need a refresher, when taking Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, Airborneo, AirAsia or Batik Air, remember to bring your power banks only as carry-on. Do not pack them in your checked luggage.
The power banks must be carried with you at all times, and not placed in the overhead bin. But you are not allowed to use or charge them onboard. Generally, one power bank up to 100Wh (around 27,000mAh) is allowed per person.
This applies to other air carriers too, such as Singapore Airlines and Scoot (Singapore), Thai Airways (Thailand), Qatar Airways (Qatar), Etihad Airways and Emirates (United Arab Emirates), Qantas (Australia) and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific.
If you’re flying to China, always check for updates first from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The same restrictions apply on Chinese airlines, like China Southern, China Eastern, Air China or Shandong Airlines, but there is one extra thing to look out for.
When going through any airport in China, your power banks must be 3C-certified – which means it carries the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark. You can usually find this mark on the back or bottom of your power bank.
While this restriction is said to be for domestic flights only, there have been many international passengers who reported (on social media) getting their power banks confiscated. So best to carry a 3C-certified one to be safe.
Also, make sure that the capacity (in mAh or Wh) and the model details must be clearly visible on the power banks. If not, into the bin they go.
