Southwest limiting popular travel device to one per passenger as safety concerns mount

Southwest Airlines is cracking down on portable chargers, rolling out a strict new policy in which passengers can only bring one charger each and are barred from putting the devices in overhead bins due to concerns over midair fire risks.The Dallas-based carrier said travelers will be allowed just one lithium-powered charger per person, capped at 100 watt-hours, and must keep the device either on their person or in a bag under the seat.The move, reported on Wednesday by Fox Business, marks a significant escalation in airline safety rules surrounding so-called “power banks,” which have increasingly been linked to onboard smoke and fire incidents.In an internal message to employees, Dave Hunt, the airline’s vice president of safety and security, said the policy — which takes effect April 20 — is aimed at strengthening the carrier’s ability to “contain and mitigate lithium battery incidents, including reducing the risk of battery fires.”Southwest said it plans to notify customers of the changes at multiple points before travel — including during booking and check-in — as well as through airport signage and onboard announcements.The airline added that access to onboard power will expand in the coming years, with plans to equip its entire fleet with in-seat power by mid-2027 in an effort to reduce reliance on portable chargers.Hunt said the policy reflects Southwest’s broader safety priorities, calling it part of the airline’s effort to improve its safety culture while reducing injuries, damage and security incidents.“Our approach reflects our culture of safety and security in action: proactively managing risk and caring for our customers and people at every step,” Hunt said.The crackdown comes roughly a year after Southwest first required passengers to keep portable chargers in plain sight while in use — a policy designed to ensure flight crews could quickly identify overheating devices before they escalated into emergencies.Under that rule...