New York travelers are used to packing a portable charger like it’s a passport, and if you’re already planning out your 2026 travel you might want to hear this news.
It’s no secret by this point that everything lives on your phone now — boarding passes, Uber apps, hotel confirmations — it’s now basically become your most important travel item.
But now, portable chargers have been making international headlines recently about airlines banning power banks, and it’s understandably caused some panic.
Here’s the real story: portable chargers aren’t totally banned — but 2026 has brought a wave of new airline rules that seriously change how (and if) you can use them in the air, especially on international flights out of JFK and Newark.
And for New Yorkers heading to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East this year, this is something you’ll want to know before you board.
Airlines are cracking down on using power banks — not just carrying them
The biggest change in early 2026 isn’t about whether you can bring a portable charger on a plane. It’s about whether you’re allowed to plug into it once you’re airborne.
Several major international airlines have now banned passengers from using or charging power banks during the flight — even though the devices are still allowed onboard.
As of January 2026, this includes:
- Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines)
- Emirates
- Singapore Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- EVA Air
- Thai Airways
- Qantas, Jetstar, and other long-haul carriers
The rule is simple but surprising:
You can bring your power bank — you just can’t use it to charge your phone, and you can’t recharge the power bank using the plane’s USB ports.
For anyone flying JFK–Frankfurt, JFK–Zurich, JFK–Dubai, or EWR–Singapore, that’s a pretty big shift.
Why airlines are suddenly so strict about portable chargers
This isn’t random, and you’ve most likely been asked before about lithium batteries if you’ve ever checked a bag at the airport.
Portable chargers use lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat or enter something called thermal runaway — a chain reaction that can cause smoke, fire, or even explosions. In a tightly packed airplane cabin, that’s a serious safety issue.
The concern isn’t just the battery itself, but where it’s stored. A smoldering charger buried in an overhead bin is harder for crew members to spot than one under a seat.
Which brings us to the next big change.
Power banks are being pushed out of overhead bins
Another new rule showing up in 2026 for those mentioned airlines above: no more storing portable chargers in overhead compartments.
Many carriers, including those above, now require power banks to be kept:
- In the seatback pocket
- In a bag under the seat in front of you
- Or on your person
And while “no overhead bin” rule is not yet a universal law for every single plane in the sky, for U.S. domestic airlines like Delta, United, and American, the FAA still officially says “carry-on only,” is fine while the carriers strongly discourage travelers from putting a lithium battery in the overhead compartments.
NYC pro tip: If your carry-on gets gate-checked at JFK or Newark, remove your power bank before handing the bag over. TSA and gate agents are watching this closely in 2026.
Yes, you can still bring a portable charger — but size matters
At this point you may even be wondering, should I even bring my portable charger? And yes, you still can, in certain conditions.
Under FAA and TSA rules (which still govern U.S. airports), portable chargers are treated as spare lithium batteries.
That means they have to fit certain requirements, like 100 watt-hours (Wh) or less, or ones 100–160 Wh, but only with prior approval — and usually only two per passenger. Anything over 160 Wh is banned entirely
Most phone-sized power banks fall under the limit, but here’s the catch: If your charger doesn’t have a visible capacity label (Wh or mAh), security may confiscate it on the spot.
That’s becoming one of the most common ways travelers are losing chargers in 2026.
What this actually means for New Yorkers flying in 2026
For domestic flights on U.S. airlines, things are mostly the same: power banks are allowed, with size limits, and rules tend to be more relaxed.
But for international flights out of NYC, especially on foreign carriers, things get a little stricter. Expect:
- Power banks allowed in carry-on only
- No charging your phone with them mid-flight
- No charging the power bank itself onboard
- Limits on how many you can carry (often two)
- Storage under the seat or in the seat pocket — not overhead
In other words, you can still bring a portable charger — you just can’t rely on it the way you used to.