While in the news a great deal over the last year, the ban on the lithium batteries aboard planes actually dates back to 2016 when both the FAA and airlines themselves banned them from checked luggage after an increase in in-cabin fires.
The lithium-ion battery that allows for portable charging also contains volatile electrolytes that pose a greater risk of catching fire.
After more than a decade of airlines requiring travelers to keep any devices with lithium batteries with them in carry-on luggage, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines became the first U.S. airline to change its policy to state that any portable chargers used during the flight must also be with the passenger rather than buried deep inside a bag in May 2025.
Southwest to limit in-flight battery packs to one per person
A year later, Southwest added a further restriction limiting travelers to one portable charger per person. The change, which also prevents flight passengers from charging the power bank using the seat outlet, officially comes into effect on April 20 for all future flights.
Southwest confirmed the change to Reuters but has not released an official statement on the changes. A previous version of Southwest’s site stated that travelers “may carry up to 20 spare batteries, including portable chargers, power banks [and] external battery chargers for phones, tablets, and laptops.”
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“When using a portable charger/power bank onboard, [the item] must be visible (not stored in bags) [and] must not be used to charge devices in overhead bins,” the Southwest policy traveling with lithium batteries has stated on its website since May 2025. “[…] Do not pack recalled, damaged, or defective batteries, as they can pose a fire hazard.”
In March 2026, the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced a global limit of two batteries or devices containing them per traveler.
The International Civil Aviation Organization recently introduced its own limits on battery packs in the cabin.
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These are the official rules on power banks for other airlines
The three main U.S. carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have implemented the same limit after the global rule but Southwest is the only U.S. airline to go a step forward and limit travelers to just one. The specific limits and requirements for transporting them, meanwhile, vary from airline to airline while recently having been changed to be in line with the new ICAO rule.
“Spare lithium batteries are allowed in carry-on baggage only with batteries individually protected to prevent short circuit,” the Delta policy states. “In the interest of safety, passengers should store spare lithium batteries, including power banks, in a place that is easily accessible such as underneath the seat in front of you or in the seatback pocket.”
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A recent safety alert issued by the FAA stated that the 97 recorded fire incidents linked to lithium batteries on planes in 2025 was an increase from 89 in 2024.
International airlines such as Air New Zealand and Taiwan’s EVA Air have recently put in place similar bans not just on power banks but also all items that allow for portable charging such as wireless headphones.
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