Beijing, June 29, 2025 – Millions of travelers across China are frantically rummaging through drawers and bags this weekend after aviation authorities dropped a bombshell: virtually all power banks manufactured before 2024 are now banned from both checked luggage and carry-on bags on all flights within, to, or from China. The immediate implementation of the rule, citing critical fire safety risks associated with aging lithium-ion batteries, has caused widespread confusion and frustration at airports nationwide.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced the sweeping prohibition late Thursday night, effective immediately. The core of the regulation is stark: only power banks manufactured on or after January 1, 2024, bearing a clearly legible manufacture date and meeting existing capacity limits (typically 100Wh or less for carry-on, with airline approval needed for 100-160Wh), will be permitted onboard aircraft.
Safety Concerns Take Off, Convenience Gets Checked
The CAAC stated the drastic move is a direct response to "an increasing number of incidents involving the thermal runaway of aging lithium batteries in portable power banks," both during flights and in airport terminals. Thermal runaway is a dangerous chain reaction within a battery cell causing rapid overheating, fire, and potentially explosive release of toxic gases – a nightmare scenario at 30,000 feet. Officials argue that batteries produced before 2024 are statistically more likely to have degraded components or manufacturing flaws that increase this risk over time and with use cycles.
"The safety of passengers and crew is our paramount and non-negotiable priority," declared CAAC spokesperson Li Wei during a hastily arranged press briefing on Friday. "While we understand this causes inconvenience, the data shows a clear correlation between the age of these devices and failure rates. This decisive action is necessary to mitigate a significant and growing airborne fire hazard." The CAAC pointed to several recent, though non-catastrophic, incidents involving smoking or overheating power banks as catalysts for the new rule. You can read the official CAAC statement and reasoning outlined in their release covered by Reuters here.
Chaos at Check-In: "Where's the Date?"
The immediate effect was palpable at major hubs like Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, and Guangzhou Baiyun on Friday and Saturday. Security lines slowed to a crawl as passengers, many unaware of the new rule until arriving at the airport, were forced to surrender power banks lacking a visible 2024 or 2025 manufacture date.
"It's absolute chaos," reported David Chen, a frequent business traveler stuck at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. "I had three power banks in my bag. One had a tiny date stamp – 2023 – gone. The other two have no date at all anywhere, just a model number. The security officer just shook his head and took them. There's no grace period, no warning. My expensive 20,000mAh bank from last year? Useless now." Chen's experience echoes countless others shared online.
Enforcement and Disposal: A Mounting Pile of E-Waste
Airport security checkpoints have been instructed to rigorously inspect all power banks. Devices without a clear manufacture date are automatically banned. Those with dates pre-2024 are confiscated. Options for travelers are bleak: surrender the device for destruction, miss the flight, or attempt to leave the airport to mail it (often impractical). Photos circulating online show bins filling rapidly with discarded power banks. Environmental groups have already raised concerns about the sudden surge in electronic waste this policy will generate.
The confusion is amplified because many older, but still perfectly functional, power banks either never had a clear manufacture date printed, or the date stamp has faded or worn off over time. As discussed heavily on forums like Reddit's r/ChinaLife, even devices purchased in late 2023 might have been manufactured in 2023 and are now contraband. "PSA: Dig out your power banks NOW and check for a date. If it's not 2024 or 2025, or you can't find it, just assume it's banned. Don't wait until you're at security," advised one popular post.
Industry Impact and Traveler Adaptation
The ban is a windfall for electronics retailers near airports and online, reporting a surge in sales of new, clearly dated 2024/2025 power banks. However, it represents a significant financial loss for countless travelers whose pre-2024 devices are now essentially worthless for air travel within China. Airlines are scrambling to update their websites and inform passengers, but the message is still not reaching everyone.
Travel experts advise:
- Check ALL power banks NOW: Locate the manufacture date. If it reads 2023 or earlier, or is missing/unreadable, it is banned.
- Leave banned power banks at home: Do not attempt to bring them to the airport.
- Purchase new, compliant power banks: Ensure they clearly display a 2024 or 2025 manufacture date.
- Check airline specifics: While the date ban is CAAC-wide, always verify capacity limits (usually max 100Wh for carry-on without approval, max two devices).
- Consider alternatives: Newer phones often have better battery life. Airports and planes may offer USB ports (though reliability varies).
The CAAC has given no indication of an end date for the ban, suggesting it could be a permanent measure. For now, the skies over China are officially off-limits to the vast fleet of pre-2024 power banks, leaving travelers to adapt quickly to this new, stricter reality of staying charged in the air. The cost of convenience has just gone up.
Post a Comment