This guide is written from Singapore Airlines’ medical information page and the Health Sciences Authority’s personal-import rules, read 14 October 2026. Other airlines flying from Changi set their own rules; check with them directly.
Singapore Airlines: what you can use on board
SIA requires approval for electrical medical equipment used in flight, except for:
- CPAP machines (all models)
- FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators (POC)
- portable hearing aids, heart pacemakers and nebulisers
You do not need approval to use these. You do need to operate them yourself; cabin crew will not help, and may ask you to switch off a device that causes interference.
Batteries: the 150% rule
SIA says it may not provide in-seat power on every flight. Your CPAP or POC must run on a gel or dry battery for at least 150% of the flight time:
| Flight time | Battery needed |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | 3 hours |
| 6 hours | 9 hours |
| 10 hours | 15 hours |
| 13 hours | 19.5 hours |
Lithium batteries also fall under SIA’s separate lithium-battery baggage rules. For a POC, check the battery hours for your flow setting: Philips, for example, rates the SimplyGo Mini at up to 9 hours on a new battery, and says battery time falls with age and use.
Where the device goes
- POC: stowed under the seat in front of you while in use. SIA makes an exception for the AirSep Lifestyle and Freestyle, which may sit on the seat or be held.
- CPAP: must fit under the seat in front to be used in flight. If it doesn’t fit, you can carry it on board but it goes in the overhead bin, unused.
- Seats: bulkhead and emergency exit row seats are not available to you.
Before you fly
- Contact SIA at least 48 hours before the flight to confirm flight duration and arrangements.
- Carry a medical certificate from your doctor stating you are fit to travel.
- Check in 2 to 3 hours before departure.
If you need oxygen from the airline
SIA’s Supplementary Oxygen Kit can be provided, subject to the rules of the departure and arrival countries.
- Ask at least 5 working days before the flight, with a medical certificate.
- You may need one or more extra seats for the bottle, and charges apply.
- Depending on flow and flight time, you may need more than one bottle.
- You may not bring or use your own oxygen bottle, or your own mask with the kit.
Where your fitness to fly is in doubt, SIA uses its Medical Information Form (MEDIF) for medical clearance.
Arriving in Singapore with a device
The Health Sciences Authority says you need its approval before bringing a medical device into Singapore for personal use. Apply at least 10 working days before you arrive. Staying inside the airport transit zones needs no approval. Full details: HSA medical device rules.
Power at your destination
Singapore uses 230 V, 50 Hz and UK-style Type G sockets (Electrical Safety First). A travel adaptor changes the plug shape, not the voltage. Check whether your power supply is rated for 230 V. Yes CPAP, for example, lists its iBreeze power brick as 100 to 240 V with a Singapore/UK plug. Check your own power supply’s label.