Southwest bans most portable chargers

Southwest Airlines will cap passengers at one portable charger per person starting April 20, tightening rules on a device many travelers now treat like a second phone battery. (support.southwest.com) (newsnationnow.com) The airline’s current guidance says customers may carry up to 20 spare batteries, including power banks, as long as they stay in a carry-on bag or on the passenger. Southwest’s updated policy cuts that to one lithium battery-powered portable charger per passenger on flights beginning April 20, 2026. (support.southwest.com) (newsnationnow.com) Southwest also says portable chargers cannot be stowed in overhead bins and cannot be recharged using in-seat power. If a passenger uses one onboard, it must stay visible rather than tucked inside a bag. (support.southwest.com) (newsnationnow.com) The rule is aimed at lithium battery fires, which crews can fight more easily in the cabin than in the cargo hold. The Federal Aviation Administration says spare lithium batteries and power banks are barred from checked bags and must remain accessible in the cabin. (faa.gov) Portable chargers use lithium-ion cells, which can overheat if crushed, short-circuited, damaged or overcharged. That failure can trigger “thermal runaway,” a chain reaction that releases heat, flammable gas and, in some cases, fire or explosion. (lasvegassun.com) The Federal Aviation Administration recorded 97 lithium battery incidents involving smoke, fire or extreme heat on aircraft in 2025, up from 89 in 2024. Jeff Marootian, chief executive of UL Standards & Engagement, told the Las Vegas Sun his organization logged a 42 percent increase in incidents involving portable chargers in 2025. (faa.gov) (lasvegassun.com) Southwest’s move goes beyond a new international baseline issued on March 27 by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations aviation agency. That standard limits passengers to two power banks each and bans recharging them during flights. (icao.int) (newsnationnow.com) Other airlines and regulators had already started moving in the same direction after a 2025 fire on an Air Busan plane, according to Reuters. Southwest said the new policy is meant “to strengthen our ability to contain and mitigate lithium battery incidents, including reducing the risk of battery fires.” (newsnationnow.com) The practical change for travelers is simple: pack one power bank, keep it under the seat or on your person, and do not expect to top it up from the seat outlet. Southwest told Reuters its fleet is scheduled to have in-seat power across the board by mid-2027, which would reduce the need for backup batteries in the first place. (support.southwest.com) (newsnationnow.com)