Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Bar Use of Power Banks Onboard Amid Lithium Battery Safety Concerns

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air announced on Sept. 16, 2025, that passengers will no longer be permitted to use power banks while aboard their flights, joining a growing list of carriers imposing tighter restrictions on portable lithium batteries.

Under the new policies, passengers may carry power banks in the cabin but must keep them in carry-on baggage or otherwise in clear sight and must not use or charge the units during flight. The devices also remain prohibited from checked luggage, and at-seat charging ports cannot be used to recharge power banks, the airlines said.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet implemented the measures as regulators and airlines increasingly point to the fire risk posed by lithium-ion batteries. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last week updated its guidance after reporting about 50 incidents involving power banks on aircraft, saying: "Lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins and or in carry-on baggage may be obscured, difficult to access, or not readily monitored by passengers or crewmembers. Because of this, detection of thermal runaway and firefighting measures may be delayed in flight, increasing the risk to safety."

The move follows a string of similar policies announced by other international carriers in recent months. Emirates has said passengers will soon be barred from bringing power banks on board, while Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Thai Airways and AirAsia have introduced their own restrictions. Regional carriers including Tigerair and Starlux have also announced bans or tightened rules.

Vietnam Airlines operates long-haul services connecting London Heathrow with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, among other international routes. The airline's new measures mean passengers on those routes will be unable to use portable chargers to power personal devices during flights that permit in-seat charging for phones and laptops.

Airlines and aviation regulators have long cautioned about the risks of lithium-ion batteries, which can experience thermal runaway — a rapid, uncontrolled increase in temperature that can lead to fire and, in rare cases, explosion. The FAA and other authorities have emphasized that when batteries are stored where they cannot be readily monitored, such as in overhead bins or checked baggage, the likelihood of delayed detection and response to a battery-related fire increases.

The industry has gradually tightened rules governing spare lithium batteries and power banks since a series of incidents over the past decade. Many carriers already require spare batteries to be carried in the cabin rather than checked, with individual power banks commonly limited by watt-hour rating and subject to airline-specific limits.

Passengers planning to travel with portable chargers should check the specific rules of their carrier before departure. In general, the most common regulatory requirements are that power banks be carried in hand luggage, not checked, and that they be stored and transported in a way that prevents short circuits. Under the newly announced policies by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air, the additional restriction is that devices may not be used or charged in flight and must remain visible to crew and passengers.

Airlines cited safety as the primary motivation for the changes. Regulators and carriers continue to review policies as investigation into battery-related incidents and guidance from aviation authorities develop.

Passengers with concerns about device power management on flights are advised to consult carrier websites for the latest policy details and to follow crew instructions regarding the storage and use of electronic devices and batteries during boarding and flight operations.