Finland's Traficom urges travelers to keep powerbanks in cabin bags

Finland's Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom), together with airport operator Finavia, airlines Finnair, Norra and Norwegian, and ground‑service firm Airpro, have launched a joint safety campaign reminding passengers that lithium‑battery devices – such as powerbanks, spare batteries and e‑cigarettes – must be carried in hand luggage, not checked baggage. In Helsinki‑Vantaa alone, authorities remove around 34 000‑36 000 powerbanks from checked bags each year, a figure that rises during peak travel periods.

The campaign also points to a new ICAO rule that took effect in April, limiting travelers to a maximum of two powerbanks with a combined capacity of up to 100 watt‑hours. Powerbanks may not be used or recharged on the aircraft, and any damaged or overheating batteries must be reported immediately. Proper packing, as the agencies stress, reduces safety risks and speeds up security checks.