Travelers are facing disruptions at Chinese airports as a new, sudden ban on most power banks being brought onto flights took effect on Saturday, June 28, giving passengers only two days’ notice. The restriction applies to domestic flights within China, but reports also indicate that passengers boarding international flights from Shanghai are being affected.
According to China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC), only power banks displaying a valid ‘3C’ (China Compulsory Certification) logo are allowed onboard. The 3C certification is a mandatory safety and quality standard for both locally-made and imported electronic products.
Most power banks are manufactured in China, but many likely lack the necessary 3C mark. This is understandable since the CCC certification standard for power banks was only introduced in August 2023, meaning many existing stockpiles may still be uncertified and unmarked.
Power banks without the CCC mark may be seized at airport security checkpoints, and even those with the logo can only be carried in hand luggage. It remains uncertain if the CAAC’s rule also bans the use or charging of approved power banks during flights, a restriction that many airlines across Asia are increasingly implementing due to recent incidents involving lithium batteries overheating on planes.
In one recent case, a China Southern Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Shenzhen was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff after smoke was detected coming from a passenger’s camera battery and power bank. Earlier, a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong was diverted to Fuzhou following a mid-flight fire in the overhead compartment, suspected to be caused by a power bank.
Several major Chinese power bank manufacturers, including well-known brand Anker, have recently recalled batches of batteries due to safety concerns, highlighting the growing risks associated with lithium batteries onboard aircraft.
