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How many portable chargers do you usually travel with? If the answer is more than two, then you might want to do a quick check of your carry-on before hitting the departure gate. The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has just updated their safety protocols, and all passengers flying out of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) are now limited to carrying only two power banks with them.
Under this new regulation, using portable chargers to charge devices mid-flight or recharging the batteries themselves via the plane’s USB ports is also strictly prohibited. Passengers must ensure their two permitted units are kept in carry-on bags only and stay within the 100Wh capacity limit, though some airlines may allow up to 160Wh with prior approval. The clampdown, which comes in alignment with the updated International Civil Aviation Organisation guidelines (ICAO), is a direct attempt to prevent ‘thermal runaway’, a volatile state where a damaged or overheating lithium battery can catch fire and spread rapidly in a pressurised cabin. This builds on previous restrictions introduced in 2025 after several lithium battery-related incidents. The ICAO’s global push is about limiting total risk from multiple high-energy devices in one cabin, especially on long-haul flights or with families and tech-heavy travellers who might otherwise carry more.
Despite the safety logic, the transition hasn’t been smooth for everyone, with recent reports suggesting a fair amount of confusion on the ground. Many passengers arrived at check-in completely unaware of the updated limits, as the CAD issued the circular with immediate effect and no grace period. While major carriers like Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and Hong Kong Airlines have since started adding warnings at check-in and online, the initial rollout left some travellers scrambling to decide which of their expensive gadgets to surrender to security before being allowed to board.
Our advice? Always double-check your bags before leaving home, check with your airline for any carrier-specific rules that you’re unsure of, and visit the official HKIA website or your airline’s page for the latest updates before you fly. Safe travels – and if your battery doesn’t quite make the distance, at least you can finally finish that book you’ve been “reading” for six months.
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