Southwest Airlines has announced a ban on charging devices using portable chargers stored inside carry-on luggage, citing the risk of lithium batteries overheating or catching fire.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline said the new rule will require passengers to keep portable chargers visible when in use. The regulation will come into force on all Southwest flights from Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
From this date onwards, passengers will no longer be permitted to charge devices using power banks placed inside bags or overhead lockers. The decision follows a rising number of fire-related incidents involving lithium-ion batteries during flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration has already recorded at least 22 such incidents in 2025, involving batteries catching fire, overheating, or emitting smoke onboard aircraft. In 2024, the number of incidents stood at 89.
According to Southwest Airlines, the rule aims to enable cabin crew to respond more swiftly in the event of a battery malfunction.
“Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted.
“Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees,” the statement reads in part.
The airline noted that the policy change comes in response to multiple reports of battery-related incidents on flights operated by various carriers. It added that the measure would enhance flight crews’ ability to detect and manage overheating batteries, thereby helping to prevent potential mid-air emergencies.
In March, flight attendants on a Southwest service reported a battery fire shortly after landing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, according to the FAA, which is currently investigating the incident.
The FAA permits passengers to bring lithium batteries only in their hand luggage.
Since 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency responsible for global aviation standards has prohibited such batteries from being placed in checked baggage or aircraft cargo holds.
Additionally, FAA regulations require passengers to remove power banks during airport security screenings and keep them on their person during flights.