Over the last year, the issue around transporting lithium batteries and the power banks that commonly contain them has once again begun coming up after multiple airlines, the TSA and the entire country of Japan all expanded on existing bans around packing these items in their luggage.
The lithium-ion battery that allows for portable charging also contains volatile electrolytes that pose a particular risk of catching fire; the additional restrictions come after a string of in-cabin fires on different airlines.
While the wireless headphones that have largely replaced cable versions over the last decade also contain lithium-ion batteries in the charging case, their significantly smaller size has largely kept them under the radar from sweeping bans. But amid a bigger spotlight on airborne fire safety, at least two national airlines have introduced new restrictions on transporting portable headphones including the popular Apple AirPods in checked luggage.
“Should only be packed in carry-on baggage”: Airlines increasingly crack down on portable headphones
Air New Zealand became the latest major airline tweak its policy to state that not just batteries and power banks but also wireless headphones should not be packed in checked luggage “under any circumstances.” Taiwanese airline Eva Air made similar changes to its policy that it now displays on its website in November 2025.
“Batteries, portable chargers or power banks that are not installed in a device must be packed safely in carry-on,” Air New Zealand writes on its website. “[…] The charges cases for air pods, earbuds and in-ear devices should only be packed in carry-on baggage.”
Related: Lufthansa is latest to ban use of item many other airlines allow
Incidents involving in-cabin fires from a portable charging case have been significantly rarer than those arising from power banks but their potential has pushed some airlines to issue proactive bans.
“Bluetooth earphones and their charging case must be carried in your carry-on baggage, as the charging case contains a lithium battery and functions as a power bank,” Eva Air explains to anyone who may be confused as to why their headphones are treated the same as a power bank.
Air New Zealand is among the major airlines that do not allow wireless headphones to be packed in checked baggage.
Air New Zealand
Which other airlines restrict wireless headphones in checked luggage
Smaller airlines to introduce similar restrictions include Taiwanese regional carriers UNI Air and Tigerair. Neither airline’s restriction on checked baggage transportation affects travelers’ ability to use wireless headphones to listen to music or watch videos in-flight; they were put in place primarily so that any fires that do break out can be spotted and put out quickly rather than spread in the cargo section of the airplane.
More Travel News:
- Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.
- Iranian strike hits major airport, injuries reported
- Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026
- US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel
No U.S.-based airline currently has wording that specifically singles out portable headphones although Southwest Airlines became the first to change its policy to explicitly state that any power banks brought inside the cabin need to be clearly visible and kept near the traveler at all times rather than be placed within a bag in the overhead compartment.
“Do not pack recalled, damaged, or defective batteries, as they can pose a fire hazard,” the Southwest now also has in its policy on which items can be brought aboard.
Related: Airline loses license over false pilot records, all flights off