Alongside visa and entry-rule changes, 2026 has also brought a run of updates to how you actually pack and board a flight from India — some driven by safety, some by customs policy. The headline change is that power banks must now travel exclusively in cabin baggage, never checked, and the general duty-free allowance for returning travellers has been raised to ₹75,000.
Power banks: cabin bag only, no exceptions
Following a DGCA safety advisory, power banks must now travel exclusively in your cabin baggage — never in checked luggage. In the cabin, they cannot be used or charged during the flight and cannot be stored in the overhead bin; they must stay in your seat pocket, an under-seat bag, or on your person. This is a safety rule around lithium-battery fire risk and it is enforced strictly — a power bank found in checked baggage will hold up your entire bag at security.
One cabin bag, strictly enforced
Airport security now strictly enforces a one-cabin-bag policy on flights leaving Indian airports: Economy passengers get one bag up to 7 kg, Business/First one bag up to 10 kg, both within standard size limits. Your laptop bag or handbag needs to fit inside that single piece — carrying a separate laptop bag alongside your cabin trolley is no longer waved through the way it sometimes was before.
Customs Baggage Rules 2026 — higher duty-free limits
The Government of India notified new Baggage Rules under the Customs Act, effective February 2026, that work in travellers' favour: the general duty-free allowance for Indian residents was raised to ₹75,000, the gold jewellery allowance is now weight-based at 40g for women and 20g for men, and one duty-free laptop is permitted for passengers aged 18 and older. This is useful to know if you are bringing back gifts, gold or electronics from a trip. Electronic cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco devices, on the other hand, are completely banned by the Government of India — not permitted in cabin or checked baggage, and confiscated at security if found.
New international routes worth knowing about
Route networks expanded meaningfully in 2026, with several openings directly relevant to Gujarat travellers. A new direct Ahmedabad–Colombo route launched in May 2026, specifically to boost Gujarat–Sri Lanka tourism and business and cutting out the usual Chennai or Mumbai connection. Elsewhere, Guwahati–Dubai and Guwahati–Abu Dhabi opened new direct Gulf connections from India's North East, Delhi–Hanoi and Mumbai–Tokyo Haneda added long-haul options for onward Southeast and East Asia connections, and Noida International Airport (Jewar) opened for commercial flights in mid-2026, with Zurich, Dubai and Singapore flagged as likely first international destinations later in the year. New direct routes usually launch with introductory fares and lighter demand in the first few months, so if a destination you want has just gained a direct connection, it is often the best time to book.
The practical packing checklist for 2026
Pack one cabin bag only, within the weight limit for your class; keep your power bank in that cabin bag, switched off, and out of the seat-back pocket during taxi, takeoff and landing per crew instruction; leave vapes and e-cigarettes at home entirely; keep gold jewellery and new electronics within the revised duty-free limits or be ready to declare the excess; and check your specific airline's checked-baggage allowance before you pack, since it varies by route as much as by airline.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry a power bank in checked baggage? No — under the current DGCA safety rule, power banks must travel only in your cabin baggage, never checked, and in the cabin they cannot be used, charged, or stored in the overhead bin during the flight.
What is the new duty-free limit for Indian travellers? The general duty-free allowance for Indian residents was raised to ₹75,000 under the Customs Baggage Rules 2026, alongside a weight-based gold jewellery allowance (40g women, 20g men) and one duty-free laptop for travellers 18 and older.
Is there a new direct flight from Gujarat to Sri Lanka? Yes — a direct Ahmedabad–Colombo route launched in May 2026, removing the need to connect via Chennai or Mumbai and making Sri Lanka one of the most convenient international trips from Gujarat.
Know the rules before you pack — message Explera Vacations on WhatsApp or get in touch, and we'll book your flights with a team that tracks every one of these changes, not just the fare.
