BRENT PINHEIRO
Producer
[email protected]
Power banks have become a must-have travel accessory as passengers seek to remain connected. However, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is set to roll out a new policy limiting their use in the cabin in the coming weeks.
Guardian Media understands that under the new restrictions, each passenger will be permitted to bring only two lithium battery-powered power banks onboard (not exceeding 100 Wh), which should always be within reach and not stored in the overhead bins. Passengers will no longer be allowed to use power banks to charge their personal devices, nor will they be allowed to recharge the power banks.
The restriction does not extend to seatback power. CAL’s Boeing 737-8s all offer seatback power; however, the ATR 72-600 fleet does not. Power banks must be carried in carry-on baggage only and not placed in checked luggage. Cabin crew will still be allowed to carry and use power banks in keeping with operational requirements.
The new rules will bring CAL in line with a March 27 decision by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to introduce an addendum to the Technical Instructions. The addendum regulates the use of power banks onboard aircraft. ICAO took the decision after a series of lithium battery fires across the globe, most seriously the hull loss of an Airbus A321 which caught fire while preparing to taxi for take-off. Twenty-seven people were injured in that incident.
Power banks can pose an increased risk to passengers and aircraft due to a process called thermal runaway. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), thermal runaway can occur without warning, either due to manufacturing defects or if the battery is damaged, overheated, or exposed to water. FAA data shows that there were over 700 verified lithium battery incidents between March 3, 2006, and April 15, 2026.
American carriers Southwest and American Airlines have already introduced similar policies.
