Airline passengers are not allowed to carry more than two power banks on board and are strictly prohibited from recharging these devices during flights, the Civil Aviation Department said Saturday.

The CAD said in a statement that it had issued a circular to airlines operating at the Hong Kong International Airport to ensure that the new requirements from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding lithium battery power banks are strictly followed.

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The ICAO said on Friday that the new requirements will enhance safety, while flight crew members will still be able to continue to carry and use these power banks in line with their aircraft’s operational requirements.

In March last year, the CAD barred passengers on local airlines from using power banks to charge electronic devices or other power banks on board. Additionally, power banks must not be stored in overhead luggage compartments.

READ MORE: Hong Kong Airlines flight diverted due to suspected fire

The ban was implemented after an incident in which a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province to Hong Kong was forced to divert to Fuzhou in Fujian province due to a cabin fire suspected to have been caused by a power bank.

On Jan 28, 2025, a portable power bank reportedly caught fire aboard an Air Busan flight at Gimhae International Airport, South Korea, as the plane was preparing to depart for Hong Kong.