Airlines are implementing more stringent rules regarding batteries and portable chargers. Due to fire risks, Southwest Airlines now mandates that portable chargers must be visible while in use during flights, banning the charging of devices in the overhead compartment. This initiative seeks to swiftly mitigate potential fires resulting from overheating batteries and started on May 28. As per Southwest Airlines’ policy, “When a portable charger/power bank is utilized during a flight, it must be outside of any luggage and remain in plain view. Do not charge devices in the overhead bin.” Passengers are still allowed to bring up to 20 extra batteries, including portable chargers and power banks, on Southwest flights. The policy specifies, “Portable chargers and spare batteries must be safeguarded against short circuits by covering any exposed terminals and packed in your carry-on bag or with you in the cabin. The size of lithium-ion batteries must not surpass 100 watt-hours.”
Southwest’s policy is comparatively lenient in contrast to numerous international airlines that have imposed stricter regulations. Carriers such as EVA Air, China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Singapore Airlines have prohibited the usage of portable chargers onboard, as reported by The New York Times. Ryanair instructs passengers to remove lithium batteries from overhead compartments, and South Korea requires portable chargers to remain out of overhead bins, according to The New York Times. The Federal Aviation Administration stipulates that lithium-ion batteries must be kept in carry-on baggage.
These adjustments come in the wake of an incident where a fire damaged an Air Busan aircraft in South Korea, potentially linked to a portable power bank, as communicated by local authorities to the BBC. However, The New York Times points out that there is “no conclusive connection between portable batteries and the Air Busan fire, and an investigation is ongoing.”
As is the case with many travel regulations, rules differ by airline, so it is recommended to verify your airline’s official website prior to flying.