Supporting the changing international standards, the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has updated its onboard safety protocols, introducing stringent new rules for passengers carrying power banks on all flights operating out of Saudi airports.
The updated circular, issued in alignment with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) latest technical directives for transporting dangerous goods, aims to significantly reduce the risk of lithium battery fires in aircraft cabins.
Under the revised mandate, travellers are strictly prohibited from recharging power banks while mid-air, and the use of these devices to charge personal electronics during a flight is heavily discouraged. Furthermore, passengers are now limited to a maximum of two power banks each, both of which must be kept exclusively in carry-on cabin baggage, specifically hand luggage rather than checked luggage. Passengers must be able to access these power banks, in case of any issues, but are not permitted to use them in-flight.
The Kingdom’s proactive stance mirrors a swift, unified shift across the global aviation landscape following ICAO’s updated safety standards. Major international hubs and top-tier carriers — including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and the Lufthansa Group — have strictly enforced similar two-device limits and in-flight charging bans. To ensure maximum visibility in the event of thermal runaway, airlines like United Airlines have gone a step further, banning the devices from overhead lockers entirely and requiring them to be kept under seats or in seat back pockets.
This regulatory tightening follows a broader, aggressive enforcement campaign by GACA to elevate standards across the Kingdom's aviation sector. The authority recently revealed it logged 609 civil aviation violations in 2025, handing down over SAR 13.8 million in financial penalties to non-compliant airlines, drone operators, and passengers, a clear signal that Saudi Arabian authorities are prioritising absolute transparency, safety, and passenger protection as the country's aviation ecosystem rapidly expands.
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