Southwest Airlines makes new inflight portable charger rule
Southwest Airlines is changing rules for the stowing of portable chargers.
They will soon be required to be left in plain sight when used over concerns about lithium-ion battery overheating and fires.
The new policy goes live on May 28.
Passengers are already being informed about it via the airline’s app.
Southwest is the first US airline to implement rules over the use of portable chargers although several other global airlines have done so already.
It followed a major fire which destroyed an Air Busan plane in South Korea earlier this year.
All 176 people aboard the plane managed to evacuate safely.
According to Federal Aviation Administration data, there were a record 89 lithium-ion battery incidents last year and already 19 so far in 2025.
The most common cause of battery fires on planes is electronic cigarettes
All South Korean airlines implemented new rules and Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways both banned the use of chargers during a flight.
Related News Stories: Southwest Airlines makes another change likely to annoy passengers Southwest Airlines closing crew bases Icelandair launches inaugural flight to Nashville United says Taylor Swift fans driving travel demand News Archive - Page 3096 of 9406 - TravelMole Icelandair adds Nashville flights for 2025 Celestyal signs agreement with Abu Dhabi tourist board - TravelMole News Archive - Page 4222 of 9457 - TravelMole News Archive - Page 4101 of 9443 - TravelMole News Archive - Page 4234 of 9457 - TravelMole
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025