American joins Southwest power-bank rule

American Airlines will tighten its power-bank rules on May 1, limiting passengers to two portable chargers and requiring any charger in use to stay visible. (aa.com) (paddleyourownkanoo.com) The airline’s existing baggage page says passengers may carry up to two spare lithium-ion batteries, with airline approval required for units up to 160 watt-hours. New reporting on Tuesday said American will apply that two-power-bank cap specifically to portable chargers starting May 1. (aa.com) (abc7chicago.com) Southwest moved first in the United States. Its updated policy took effect April 20 and limits each customer to one power bank, bans overhead-bin storage, bars in-seat charging of the bank itself, and says a bank being used must be visible rather than stored in a bag. (southwest.com) Federal Aviation Administration rules already required spare lithium batteries and power banks to stay out of checked luggage and remain with the passenger in the cabin if a carry-on is gate-checked. The agency says crews can respond to smoke or fire in the cabin more effectively than in the cargo hold. (faa.gov 1) (faa.gov 2) The latest airline-specific rules track a new global push from the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO approved an addendum on March 27, 2026 that capped passengers at two power banks, prohibited recharging the banks onboard, and recommended against using them to recharge devices in flight. (icao.int) (iata.org) ICAO said the addendum was driven by a growing number of cabin fires involving lithium batteries and by a January 2025 accident that destroyed an aircraft after a fire likely began in an overhead compartment. The agency said power banks drew special scrutiny because of their wide use, uneven product quality, and limited built-in protection. (icao.int) South Korean investigators said in March 2025 that an Air Busan fire was likely triggered by a short circuit inside a portable battery pack found in the cabin area where flames were first seen. All 176 people onboard evacuated, and investigators said they found no evidence the fire started in the aircraft’s wiring or systems. (ajupress.com) The practical effect for travelers is simple: keep power banks in the cabin, expect tighter airline-specific limits, and do not assume one carrier’s battery policy matches another’s. American is joining the shift, but Southwest is still going further. (faa.gov) (southwest.com) (paddleyourownkanoo.com)