Korean Air and four other Hanjin Group airlines – Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul – have banned the in-flight use of power banks. The ban was introduced on January 26 as part of measures to enhance safety.
Under the new policy, passengers are no longer permitted to use power banks to charge personal electronic devices on flights operated by the five airlines. Lufthansa Group also introduced restrictions on power banks in January.
Power banks may still be carried into the cabin in accordance with existing regulations on capacity and quantity, but their use and charging are strictly prohibited.
To prevent short circuits, passengers must cover metal charging ports with electrical tape or place each battery in a separate plastic bag or pouch.
All power banks must be kept within personal reach. That means on the passenger, in the seatback pocket or under the seat in front. They must not be stored in the overhead bins.
Korean Air and other Hanjin Group airlines will inform customers of the updated regulations through their official websites, mobile apps, airport check-in counters and notification messages. Announcements will also be made at boarding gates and onboard aircraft.
Due to in-flight fire accidents involving lithium-ion power banks, the aviation industry has emphasised the need to strengthen cabin regulations to ensure flight safety.
Prior to this decision, the Hanjin Group airlines implemented preventive measures in line with South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport policies. These include providing insulation tape at check-in counters and boarding gates for short-circuit prevention, equipping aircraft with fire-containment bags and attaching temperature-sensitive stickers to overhead bins for quicker overheating detection.
Cabin crew training has also been enhanced with specialised drills for power bank fire scenarios in addition to standard fire response training.
A Korean Air representative said: “The ban on the in-flight use of power banks is a necessary measure to ensure the highest standards of flight safety, and passenger cooperation is essential. Korean Air remains fully committed to providing a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience for all customers.”
