American Airlines tightens rules for portable chargers amid fire concerns

American Airlines this week will introduce new restrictions on portable chargers that passengers can bring on flights for their electronic devices.

Starting Friday, American Airlines customers may carry only two power banks, which must be visible to airline personnel while in use on flights. When not in use, the chargers must be within a passenger’s reach on the aircraft and may not be stowed in an overhead bin, the airline told CBS News. 

American Airlines is introducing the policy change after nearly two dozen lithium battery incidents on flights operated by commercial airlines this year. In 2025, nearly 100 such battery incidents occurred, mostly involving battery packs and vape devices, according to FAA data.

“We know our customers rely on portable chargers to keep devices powered throughout their journey. To support safety on board while ensuring our customers continue to have the ability to charge when on the go, American is requiring customers to keep these devices easily accessible during flight,” the airline said in a statement to CBS News. “Additionally, new limits also apply to the number of portable chargers customers can bring onboard and their watt-hour capacity.”

Southwest Airlines also recently changed its policy on battery packs, limiting customers to one per customer. 

The carrier’s new rules apply to external power banks that can be plugged into electronic devices, such as laptops or smartphones. Some suitcases also feature built-in charging ports powered by lithium-ion batteries, which also would fall under the new guidelines.