New Airline Regulations for Power Banks

How To Source Power Banks and Smart Luggage That Are Allowed on Airplanes

A power bank can fly if it's 100 watt-hours (Wh) or under, in the cabin instead of checked baggage and comes with a UN38.3 test report. Airlines regulate power banks this closely because lithium batteries can catch fire if they're damaged or overheated. The same rules apply to smart luggage, since a built-in power bank is still a lithium battery - get the sourcing wrong and it isn't just a charger that gets turned away at the gate, it's the whole bag. 2026's new airline rules add a few more things buyers need to check.

• Under 100 Wh: no airline approval needed. 100–160 Wh: needs airline sign-off. Over 160 Wh: not allowed on passenger flights, full stop.
• Power banks always travel in the cabin, never in checked baggage on every airline, everywhere.
• UN38.3 is the one certification every supplier needs, no matter which country you're selling into.
• Several airlines now also restrict overhead-bin storage or in-flight charging, on top of the Wh rules.
• Smart luggage batteries must be user-removable, or the bag can be turned away at the gate.

What watt-hour rating is safe to source?

Watt-hours (Wh), not mAh, is the number every airline checks. Here's how the tiers break down:

To get Wh from mAh: divide mAh by 1000, then multiply by the cell's voltage (3.7V for standard lithium-ion). A 20,000mAh power bank works out to about 74 Wh. If a supplier only gives you mAh, ask for the Wh figure directly and check it matches what's printed on the product itself.

Why power banks can't go in checked luggage

Because it's a fire-safety rule. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and national aviation authorities everywhere treat power banks as loose lithium batteries and loose lithium batteries are barred from the cargo hold at any capacity. 

Simply, a battery fire in the cabin can be spotted and handled by crew in seconds. A fire in the hold can go undetected until it's much harder to put out. Whatever you're sourcing, this rule applies the same way in every market.

How this applies to smart luggage with a built-in power bank

Under IATA's guidance on smart baggage, a battery built into a suitcase can never be treated as fixed. If the bag has to be checked planeside, the battery has to come out and travel in the cabin, so the design has to make that possible.

• Specify a pop-out or slide-out battery pack, not a soldered-in or glued cell.
• Keep any small, fixed electronics, GPS tags, electronic locks, scales, under IATA's very low limit for those: 0.3g of lithium metal or 2.7 Wh or the bag risks being refused outright.
• Ask suppliers to prove the main battery pack is both UN38.3 tested and removable by hand, no tools needed.
• Several airlines, including British Airways, say plainly that smart luggage won't be accepted if the battery can't be readily removed.

What certification should a power bank supplier provide?

Ask for three things:

• A UN38.3 test report proves the battery can be transported safely by air, sea or road. Every airline, freight forwarder and customs authority worldwide requires it. This is the one to request from any supplier, anywhere. A proper UN38.3 test report should name the manufacturer, the test lab, a report ID and date, the battery's Wh rating and model number and which tests it passed.

  

• Market-specific marks: CE for the EU, FCC for the US, CCC for China or the equivalent for wherever your buyer sells should be printed or engraved on the power bank. These cover electrical and radio safety in that specific market.

• A IEC 62133 test report proves that the battery is safe to use – charging and discharging – rather than safe to transport. UN38.3 covers the journey and IEC 62133 covers everyday use. 

What if you're selling into the Chinese market?

Global rules cover shipping and flying with a power bank almost anywhere, but China adds one extra domestic step worth knowing if your buyers sell there. Since 28 June 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has required every power bank carried on a domestic Chinese flight to show a valid CCC mark (also called the 3C mark), China's own compulsory safety certification. Power banks without it are turned away at the gate.

This sits alongside UN38.3, not in place of it. If you're supplying power banks or smart luggage for the China market, ask your supplier whether the product already carries CCC certification, since it's a separate application from UN38.3 or CE.

What changed in 2026 that buyers should know?

The Wh limits haven't changed, but airlines are stricter around them, following onboard battery fires:

• Overhead-bin bans: United Airlines and others now require power banks to stay on the passenger, in a seat pocket, or under the seat, not in the overhead bin.
• In-flight charging bans: India has banned using or charging power banks in-flight on all routes. Other carriers have added similar limits.
• No tolerance for damaged batteries: swollen, dented or leaking batteries are now barred outright, which puts more weight on quality control at the factory rather than catching problems at the gate.

How should buyers evaluate a supplier?

• Get the current UN38.3 report for the exact cell and pack you're ordering, not a generic report for a different model.
• Check the Wh rating on the label matches the tested rating.
• For smart luggage, confirm the battery is removable by hand, and ask for photos or a sample of the release mechanism.
• Ask which market certifications (CE, FCC, CCC) the supplier already holds and which they'd still need for your buyer's market.
• Check the supplier's policy on defective or swollen batteries as this is a compliance issue now, not just a warranty one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 100 Wh power bank allowed on every airline?

Yes, under 100 Wh needs no airline approval anywhere. Some airlines now add their own limits on where you can store it or whether you can use it in-flight, so it's worth checking the specific carrier too.

Do I need different certifications for different markets?

Yes. UN38.3 is required everywhere a battery is shipped or flown. Electrical and radio approvals are separate and market-specific - CE in the EU, FCC in the US, CCC in China. Ask your supplier which they hold and which they'd need to add.

Can a power bank travel in checked luggage instead of carry-on?

No. Power banks and any removable lithium battery travel in the cabin only, never checked, on every major airline. That's why smart luggage batteries need to be removable rather than built in.

What's the difference between UN38.3 and IEC 62133?

UN38.3 proves a battery can be shipped safely. IEC 62133 proves it's safe to use. A complete supplier file should include both.

Do I need a CCC mark to sell power banks in China?

Yes, if the product will be carried on a domestic Chinese flight. Since June 2025, CAAC requires a CCC (3C) mark for power banks on domestic routes, in addition to UN38.3.