Southwest Airlines passengers will now reportedly be limited to one portable device charger on flights, according to a new company policy.
On Tuesday, Southwest announced that beginning on April 20, passengers will be limited to one portable charger when boarding the company's planes, the Associated Press reports. Passengers cannot store portable chargers in the overhead storage bins, and they won't be allowed to recharge the chargers using the airplanes' power outlets, according to the AP.
The policy reportedly builds on Southwest's existing rules that require passengers to keep their portable chargers out in the open so that flight attendants can quickly respond in the event that a device begins to overheat.
Portable chargers typically use lithium batteries. When those batteries catch fire, they emit toxic fumes — especially dangerous on an airplane — and can reignite after they’ve been extinguished, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
In March, the International Civil Aviation Organization published recommendations that airlines limit passengers to only two portable chargers, but Southwest's new policy is taking that a step further.
The airline's Vice President of Safety and Security, Dave Hunt, said the company doesn't plan to search bags or confiscate chargers but will stress to customers the potential dangers of the batteries when they book flights and arrive at the airport, according to the Associated Press.
The Independent has reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment.
Lithium fires have become a growing concern for airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration said that more lithium battery incidents are being reported every year. The agency said that there were 97 lithium battery incidents in 2025.
Jeff Marootian, CEO of UL Standards & Engagement, which produces the guidelines for makers of portable chargers and other devices, told the AP that his organization hears about approximately two lithium battery-related incidents every week. He added that there has been a 42 percent increase in the number of incidents in 2025 over the previous year.
In January 2025, an Air Busan plane preparing for take off in South Korea was forced to evacuate all 176 people on board when a fire broke out and burned through the aircraft's roof. Investigators believe a power bank's lithium battery caught fire and caused the destruction.
In February, an Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to a Kansas airport after a power bank overheated and caught fire. The flight crew managed to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher and a thermal containment bag.
To put passengers concerned about powering their devices at ease, Southwest also announced, along with the new policy, that its entire fleet of planes will include in-seat power outlets by the middle of 2027, which it hopes will reduce the need for external chargers, according to the AP.
"Access to onboard power will continue to expand. By mid-year 2027, our entire fleet will feature in-seat power, reducing reliance on portable chargers and supporting a more consistent, convenient inflight experience," Hunt said in the Southwest announcement.
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