China bans uncertified power banks for air travel

In recent months, China's aviation safety regulations have tightened in response to growing concerns about the safety of lithium batteries, particularly power banks, on flights. Various incidents around the world, including a fire aboard an Air Busan flight in January 2025 and another incident with Hong Kong Airlines in March 2025, highlighted the risks posed by overheated batteries. As a result, China's Civil Aviation Administration announced a new directive, enforcing that power banks must carry clear '3C' certification marking. This certification, known as China Compulsory Certification, is pivotal in ensuring that products adhere to health, safety, and environmental standards. The recent moves by China's market regulator have included recalling specific batches of power banks by companies such as Anker and Romoss due to safety issues. Additionally, other power bank manufacturers' certifications have faced revocation or suspension, showcasing the regulatory body’s commitment to enforcing safety measures in aviation. The revised regulations, which apply universally to passengers boarding flights in China, reveal an urgent response to a surge in incidents involving lithium batteries. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recorded a worrying trend, noting that incidents involving overheating lithium batteries on planes had escalated, rising from nearly one a week in 2018 to three every two weeks last year. This raises significant caution about the safe transport of battery-powered devices, especially as passengers increasingly carry such devices aboard flights. Airlines around the world are taking more stringent measures alongside these regulations. Many are now insisting on the visibility of portable charging devices during flights, allowing cabin crews to monitor potential issues instantly. Since 2014, the practice of charging devices on planes with power banks has already been prohibited in China. The actions taken reflect a broader global initiative to enhance aviation safety protocols as the number of electronic devices carried on flights continues to rise.