Southwest Airlines makes new inflight portable charger rule

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025 0

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.

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.

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