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Southwest Airlines Introduces New Portable Charger Safety Rule

Starting May 28, passengers must keep charging devices visible during use to address fire risks from lithium-ion batteries.

Portable chargers and power banks might be useful additions to your carry-on luggage, but they’re also a potential fire risk. Now Southwest Airlines is tightening rules around their use on board aircraft.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 airplane departs from Harry Reid International Airport as another airplane taxis on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 18: A Southwest Airlines employee assists a passenger during their check-in at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on April 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Southwest Airlines suffered a brief disruption in operations earlier this morning after a computer firewall issue forced the company to delay many of its flights. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Southwest Airlines will require passengers to keep portable chargers and power banks in plain sight while in use during flights, effective May 28.
  • The policy prohibits using chargers stored in bags or overhead bins, aiming to enhance safety by enabling quick intervention in case of overheating or fire.
  • This move follows a record 89 battery-related incidents in 2024 and 19 verified events in 2025, according to FAA data.
  • Southwest is the first U.S. airline to implement such a policy, aligning with similar restrictions already adopted by several international carriers like Singapore Airlines and Korean Air.
  • The TSA recently banned power banks from checked luggage, and the FAA has issued advisories on lithium battery safety, reflecting broader regulatory focus on mitigating fire risks.