Airlines do not invent battery rules in isolation: they implement dangerous goods requirements aligned with the ICAO Technical Instructions and industry manuals such as IATA’s Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). For the 2025–2026 cycle, IATA publishes DGR 67 together with periodic addenda that adjust details such as packing instructions, state-of-charge limits for certain shipments, and operator variations. The first addendum dated 1 January 2026 is the authoritative place to see what changed for that edition — especially if you rely on airline cargo, ship spare batteries professionally, or need the exact table entries your carrier’s compliance team uses.
What this means for everyday passengers
Most travellers only need the IATA passenger summary on lithium batteries: spare power banks and loose batteries belong in carry-on, protected against short circuit, with Wh limits (typically 100 Wh without approval; 100–160 Wh with airline approval; over 160 Wh not on passenger flights). The DGR addendum PDF is aimed at shippers and airline dangerous-goods staff; if your airline tightens cabin rules in 2026 (e.g. no in-flight charging), that is usually a company policy layered on top of these baselines — always read the carrier’s own notice.
Where to read the official text
- IATA DGR 67 — Addendum 1 (effective 1 January 2026) (PDF)
- IATA — Passengers travelling with lithium batteries (PDF)
- EASA — Dangerous goods (passengers)
Sources: IATA DGR 67 Addendum 1 (1 Jan 2026) · IATA passenger lithium battery PDF · EASA dangerous goods (passengers)