Facing an uptick in lithium battery incidents aboard aircraft, Southwest Airlines is implementing stricter carry-on regulations for portable power banks starting April 20. Passengers will soon be restricted to possessing only one lithium battery-powered device per person when flying the carrier. This move follows international incidents, including a January 2025 fire in Busan attributed potentially to a power bank.

Dave Hunt, Southwest’s vice president of safety and security, confirmed the directive, which also mandates that each allowed charger must possess a capacity of 100 watts or less. Furthermore, the airline explicitly prohibits storing these devices in overhead bins; they must remain secured in carry-on bags beneath the seat or on the passenger's person.

Adding to the restrictions, Southwest banned passengers from utilizing in-seat power outlets specifically to recharge their portable batteries, though standard device charging remains permissible. The Federal Aviation Administration reported 97 lithium battery episodes across passenger and cargo aircraft last year, a rise from 89 the year prior, emphasizing the escalating safety risk.

These tightened protocols reflect a broader industry reaction to thermal events, prompting carriers like Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines to issue similar bans on in-flight charging. Investors should view this as an operational measure intended to mitigate immediate fire hazards rather than a structural shift in baggage policy.