Travelers will soon face limits on the number of portable chargers they can carry on board, as airlines continue to try to reduce the risk of another lithium battery fire on board their planes.
Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday that starting April 20, passengers will be able to carry only one charger on their planes, and they will not be allowed to place it in the overhead bin or in their checked baggage. Airline company Really requires Passengers should keep their chargers on while using them, so flight attendants can act quickly if they start to overheat.
Southwest’s new base goes beyond the International Civil Aviation Organization’s limit of two chargers per passenger Recommended last month. But the airline says it will not enforce this policy aggressively by searching bags and confiscating chargers. Instead, Dave Hunt, Southwest’s vice president of safety and security, said the airline will confirm this to travelers when they book their flights and arrive at the airport while explaining the potential risks.
That alone could be a big help because most people don’t seem to realize the risks, said Jeff Marutian, CEO of UL Standards. & Participation, which sets guidelines for makers of these chargers and other electronic devices.
He added: “A big part of the concern here is seeing the number of accidents continue to increase, linked of course to the number of devices that people bring on board planes.”
the The Federal Aviation Administration said More lithium battery accidents are reported each year reaching 97 in 2025 as everyone carries more rechargeable devices such as phones, iPads, laptops and these portable chargers. Marutyan said his organization hears about two incidents every week, and reported a 42% increase in the number of incidents involving portable chargers in 2025.
One of the worst events occurred in January 2025 when A Devastating fire An Air Busan plane waiting to take off from an airport in South Korea had to evacuate all 176 people on board before the plane’s roof caught fire.
Flight attendants have fireproof bags and insulated gloves to place overheaters in to contain any potential fire. Southwest’s Hunt said the airline’s new rule “will enhance our ability to contain and mitigate lithium battery incidents, including reducing the risk of battery fires.”
To help make the rule viable for passengers, Southwest plans to equip all of its planes with in-seat power by the middle of next year.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo, who has flown for United Airlines for 37 years, said he believes Southwest’s new policy is a positive step to reduce risk. Although the number of fires is small compared to the approximately 100,000 flights per day around the world, the potential consequences of a battery fire could be catastrophic.
“It can turn into something very serious very quickly,” Arroyo said.