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3mo ago

Southwest Airlines Introduces Portable Charger Visibility Rule for In-Flight Safety

Effective May 28, passengers must keep portable chargers visible during use to mitigate lithium battery fire risks.

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 become the first U.S. carrier to require passengers to keep portable chargers in plain sight while in use during flights, starting May 28.
  • The policy aims to enable quicker crew response to potential lithium battery overheating or fire incidents, enhancing onboard safety.
  • FAA data reveals 22 verified lithium-ion battery-related incidents on flights in 2025, following 89 incidents in 2024, underscoring growing safety concerns.
  • Current FAA rules allow lithium batteries in carry-on luggage but do not mandate visibility, prompting Southwest to lead with stricter measures.
  • International airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, have already implemented similar restrictions, setting a global safety precedent.