Southwest Airlines Limits Portable Chargers on Flights

New policy aims to reduce in-flight battery fire risks

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:40pm

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the sweeping, monumental architecture of an airport terminal, rendered in a bold, Art Deco-inspired visual style with smooth gradients and streamlined forms, conceptually representing the scale and grandeur of air travel.New airline policies aim to mitigate the growing risk of in-flight battery fires by limiting the number of portable chargers passengers can bring on board.Imperial Today

Southwest Airlines has announced new restrictions on the number of portable lithium chargers and power banks passengers can bring on flights. Starting April 20, each passenger will be limited to one portable charger, which must be kept in a carry-on bag or on their person, rather than stored in the seat-back pocket. The airline is also prohibiting passengers from charging devices using in-seat power outlets. This policy change comes after the FAA reported nearly 100 incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat from portable batteries on planes last year.

Why it matters

The new Southwest policy is part of a broader industry effort to address the growing risk of in-flight battery fires. Several other airlines and countries have already introduced similar restrictions, following incidents like a fire on an Air Busan plane in 2025. The FAA has raised concerns about the safety hazards posed by the increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices carried by passengers.

The details

Under the new Southwest policy, each passenger will be limited to carrying one portable lithium charger or power bank in their carry-on bag. These devices cannot be stored in the seat-back pocket and must instead be kept 'on their person' or in an under-seat bag. Passengers will also be prohibited from charging devices using the in-seat power outlets. Southwest says this change is intended to 'contain and mitigate' the risk of in-flight battery fires. The airline plans to have power outlets installed across its entire fleet by mid-2027, reducing the need for passengers to bring their own chargers.

  • The new Southwest policy will go into effect on April 20, 2026.
  • Southwest plans to have power outlets installed in all of its aircraft by the middle of 2027.

The players

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline that has announced new restrictions on the number of portable chargers and power banks passengers can bring on flights.

Dave Hunt

The vice president of safety and security at Southwest Airlines, who sent an internal memo to employees about the new portable charger policy.

FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration, which reported nearly 100 incidents involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat from portable batteries on planes last year.

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What they’re saying

“Our approach reflects our Culture of Safety and Security in action: Proactively managing risk and caring for our Customers and People at every step.”

— Dave Hunt, Vice President of Safety and Security, Southwest Airlines

What’s next

Southwest says it will inform travelers of the new portable charger policy when they book their flights and at the airport, but the airline does not plan to aggressively enforce the rule by searching bags and confiscating chargers.

The takeaway

This policy change by Southwest Airlines is part of a broader industry effort to address the growing safety risks posed by the increasing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices carried by airline passengers. While the new restrictions may inconvenience some travelers, the airline is taking a proactive approach to mitigate the potential for in-flight battery fires and other incidents.