The carriage of power banks on long-distance trains is not limited by quantity or size — unlike aviation, where passengers are constrained by strict rules, RZD told RIA Novosti. The contrast between the two modes of transport became final after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced new rules from March 27, 2026.
Now, each airline passenger cannot carry more than two power banks on board. Devices are prohibited from being placed on luggage racks and charged during the flight. Russian carriers — Aeroflot, Rossiya, Pobeda, S7, Smartavia — have already joined the ICAO norms, and the Ministry of Transport has also announced changes. However, there are no restrictions on long-distance trains: a passenger is free to carry a dozen external batteries, and they do not require special placement conditions.
The divergence in rules creates a practical dilemma for travelers. Anyone combining train and plane in one trip risks having excess devices confiscated at the airport. Rail transport does not yet see critical risks from lithium batteries, while aviation reacts strictly to fire hazards — and passengers have to recount their power banks before each flight.