Southwest limits power banks on flights

At a glance:

• Starting April 20, Southwest Airlines will allow only one lithium‑battery portable charger per passenger.
• Chargers may not be plugged into seat‑back power or stored in overhead bins; they must be held or kept in a personal carry‑on under the seat.
• The rule follows a spike in lithium‑battery incidents, including a 2025 fire on a Busan Airbus linked to a power bank.

What the new rule means for travelers

Southwest’s internal memo, obtained by the New York Times, spells out that each passenger may bring a single power bank, but it cannot be charged using the aircraft’s in‑seat power outlets. The airline also bans placing the device in the overhead bin, directing travelers to keep the charger in a hand‑held position or stowed in a personal item that fits under the seat. This is a departure from the typical “carry‑on only” policy that most U.S. carriers enforce, which permits multiple chargers as long as they remain in the cabin.

The airline’s enforcement will likely involve cabin crew checks during boarding and periodic reminders during the flight. Passengers who attempt to bring more than one charger or who try to plug it into the seat power may be asked to discard the extra device at the gate, potentially leading to delays or denied boarding. Southwest has not disclosed any penalties for non‑compliance, but the policy mirrors safety‑first directives seen in other regions.

Why the policy was introduced now

Lithium‑ion batteries power everything from smartphones to laptops, but they can become hazardous when damaged, overcharged, or overheated. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 97 lithium‑battery incidents in 2025, with 14 occurring so far this year. The majority involved portable chargers that emitted smoke, fire, or extreme heat, while e‑cigarettes ranked as the second most common source.

A high‑profile case in January 2025 saw an Airbus aircraft in Busan, South Korea, engulfed in flames on the tarmac. Investigators later determined that a power bank stored in an overhead bin likely ignited the fire, which took an hour to extinguish. A subsequent Air China incident involved a spontaneous combustion of a lithium battery in an overhead compartment, forcing an emergency landing. These events underscore the difficulty of suppressing lithium‑fire chemistry once it starts.

Industry context and safety record

Chinese regulators have already banned portable batteries from flights unless the device bears a specific safety certification and is free of recalls. Internationally, many airlines prohibit the use or charging of power banks during flight, but Southwest is the first major U.S. carrier to impose a stricter cap on the number of devices per passenger.

Manufacturers also play a role. Anker, a leading power‑bank producer, issued several recalls in the past year after fire‑risk defects were discovered. Travelers are advised to check recall notices before packing any lithium‑based charger. As airlines tighten rules, the market may see a shift toward certified, lower‑capacity power banks that meet stricter safety standards.

What passengers can do to stay compliant

To avoid disruption, passengers should audit their carry‑on items before heading to the airport, ensuring only one power bank is present and that it is not plugged into any seat‑back outlet. Keeping the device in a personal bag under the seat satisfies Southwest’s requirement and reduces the risk of accidental overheating in the overhead bin. Additionally, monitoring recall alerts from manufacturers like Anker can prevent bringing a faulty charger onto the plane.

Airlines are expected to continue refining lithium‑battery policies as incident data accumulates. While Southwest’s rule is currently the most restrictive in the United States, future regulations may align more closely with the standards already enforced in Asia and Europe, potentially leading to a global baseline for safe portable‑charger travel.