With all the narrow bodies lacking any at-seat outlets at all, there are three negative behavioural changes that will happen regarding a complete ban on either using or charging power banks on board.
1. Rather than keeping the power bank easily visible and accessible, people will hide them.
2. People will bring multiple power banks with them, enough to replenish all their devices when back on terra firma.
3. Rechargeable devices will increasingly implement ultra fast high current charging as a marketing tool, bringing associated thermal risks with that, particularly in small devices.
FWIW, this is the result of ICAO and IATA campaigns following incidents.
https://www.icao.int/sites/default/f...1-%20PPT11.pdf
IATA, in particular, amended their
Dangerous Goods Regulations addendum issued on 1 January 2026:
2.3.3.2.2 Spare batteries, including power banks should:
(a) not be charged using inseat/inflight power during all phases of flight;
(b) not be used to charge or power other portable electronic devices during taxi, take off and landing;
(c) not be placed in cabin baggage loaded in the overhead storage locker; and
(d) be placed in cabin baggage under the seat in front, or other designated storage location, such as the seat back pocket.
However, there is no IATA regulation amendment I could find that bans the use of power banks to charge devices during the cruise phase, although
Finnair state they can't be used to charge devices at any time:
For safety reasons, you may not use power banks to charge your personal electronic devices during a flight.
It was great while it lasted ;-)
There's a very informative treatise here: