Japan To Ban In-Flight Use of Power Banks (asahi.com)
- Reference: 0180881928
- News link: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/03/02/0417223/japan-to-ban-in-flight-use-of-power-banks
- Source link: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16385005
> Currently, mobile batteries in Japan are classified as "spare batteries" and are prohibited in checked luggage. For carry-on bags, those exceeding 160 watt-hours are banned, while passengers are limited to two units for those over 100 watt-hours. There is no quantity limit for batteries of 100 watt-hours or less. The new rule will limit passengers to a total of two spare batteries, including power banks.
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> While there is no limit on the number of spare batteries below 100 watt-hours, carrying power banks exceeding 160 watt-hours will remain prohibited. Power banks will be capped at two units regardless of power capacity. Additionally, charging them on board will be prohibited, and it will be "recommended" that passengers not use them at all. As a result, domestic airlines are expected to require passengers to stop using power banks, cementing the effective ban on in-flight use.
[1] https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16385005
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3n25rdr3lo
[3] https://www.visionsafe.com/2025/04/30/mobile-phone-catches-fire/
[4] https://www.visionsafe.com/2025/10/12/passengers-power-bank-catches-fire-and-emits-smoke-on-ana-flight/
Most are NCM. Ban NCM. (Score:2)
IMO there should be an international blanket ban NCM batteries over a trivial size not just because of the fire risk, but because of the cobalt use. Nickel is not something you want to breathe, either. LFPs offer almost the same density as NCMs so this is one of those "making the phone 1mm thinner" things, NCM is no longer an enabling technology.
LFPs are not just far less likely to combust (although that is true) but they are also far less toxic when they do.
LFPs are much less vulnerable to thermal runaway,
Re: (Score:2)
Lifepo4 batteries are half as dense. Best i can find in 21700 cells is 3000mah, vs 6000 for regular lithium.
The real issue (Score:3)
is the battery banks coming out of China are usually not tested according to international standards. If you look up the saftey marks on the pack, you'll find that they are invalid.
Re: (Score:2)
Checking the battery to see it is unsafe or untested batteries is not easy for the airline (or consumer). It is easier to have a number. Generally, these batteries should not be used in the home much less an airplane. When picking batteries, I avoid the cheap Amazon ones as the quality and reliability are not good. If they are not hazardous they often do not last; it is cheaper to get a good one that does not have to be replaced every year.
Domestic flights (Score:2)
From TFA:
> As a result, domestic airlines are expected to require passengers to stop using power banks, cementing the effective ban on in-flight use.
I mean really - how big is Japan anyway that you can't cross it on one laptop charge?
big limits (Score:2)
160Wh is a pretty big power bank. (and they're "limiting" you to TWO?) My "big" bank is 96Wh. Maybe these people are trying to bring miniature "portable power stations" on the flight to run their laptop for hours?
If the airlines gave the passengers USB (C?) jacks at every seat, there'd be no need for powerbank use on a flight?
Re:big limits (Score:4, Informative)
Both ANA and JAL offer USB C with power delivery, which can charge or at least maintain laptops. They do say that you should not charge your laptop though, only maintain the battery level. They seem to be most worried about charging, as that is when the battery is most likely to fail catastrophically.
Re: (Score:2)
> Both ANA and JAL offer USB C with power delivery, which can charge or at least maintain laptops. They do say that you should not charge your laptop though, only maintain the battery level. They seem to be most worried about charging, as that is when the battery is most likely to fail catastrophically.
No, it's about power budget. If you ever used an airline adapter for a laptop, they always disable the charger and have been doing so for decades. Basically they can't afford to have everyone charging their dev
Re: (Score:2)
The USB C ports advertise a maximum of 60W via PD, and they say that their AC sockets are 60W maximum as well. It's not outlandish for an aircraft electrical system, and I imagine they have some very solid limiting in place.
What? No 3-phase power and 8K stream? Two stars. (Score:2)
> Maybe these people are trying to bring miniature "portable power stations" on the flight to run their laptop for hours?
Odd. I distinctly remember being able to rely on the laptop manufacturer for that. Like, two decades ago.
Then again, I wasn't sitting next to the gaming junkie warming my food with the portable crypto miner armed with dual nVidias and as many power cords getting ready to start a live-stream mid-flight, which you better be able to accommodate according to GenAlphaGen. If you're not showing an in-theatre movie in 4K surround sound, you risk a paltry two-star rating from the customer-turned-influencer base.
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