Get Ready to Limit the Number of Chargers You Fly With

Travelers will soon face stricter limits on how many portable chargers they can bring aboard flights, as airlines step up efforts to prevent lithium battery fires. Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday that beginning April 20, passengers will be restricted to a single portable charger per flight, and these devices cannot be stored in overhead bins or checked luggage. Currently, the airline already requires chargers to remain in use in the open so that flight attendants can respond quickly if a device overheats, according to the AP.

This new policy is more restrictive than the International Civil Aviation Organization’s recent recommendation, which suggested a maximum of two chargers per passenger. Southwest, however, does not plan to rigorously enforce the limit through bag searches or confiscation. Dave Hunt, Southwest’s Vice President of Safety and Security, said the airline will focus on informing passengers during booking and at the airport about the potential hazards. Jeff Marootian, CEO of UL Standards & Engagement, which sets safety guidelines for chargers and electronic devices, noted that raising awareness is crucial. “Many travelers don’t realize the risks, and incidents are rising as more devices are brought on planes,” he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported 97 lithium battery incidents in 2025, and Marootian said UL hears about two similar incidents each week. Portable chargers, in particular, saw a 42% increase in reported problems last year. A major case occurred in January 2025 when a fire on an Air Busan flight in South Korea forced all 176 passengers to evacuate before flames burned through the aircraft’s roof.

Flight attendants are trained to handle overheating batteries using fire-resistant bags and insulated gloves. Hunt emphasized that the new policy will “strengthen our ability to contain and mitigate lithium battery incidents, including reducing the risk of battery fires.” To ease the impact on passengers, Southwest plans to have in-seat power outlets on all planes by mid-2027.

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