Korean Air, collaborating with four other airlines under the Hanjin Group—Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul—will enforce a ban on the usage of power banks during flights starting from January 26. This initiative aims to bolster flight safety by mitigating the risk of lithium-ion power bank fires in-flight.

Passengers will not be permitted to use power banks to recharge devices like mobile phones, laptops, or cameras in-flight. However, they can still bring power banks into the cabin as long as they comply with existing capacity and quantity regulations. To avert short circuits, travelers are urged to cover the metal charging ports with electrical tape or place each battery in its separate pouch. It’s important that power banks remain accessible within the passenger’s reach and should not be stowed away in overhead compartments.

The airlines will notify customers about these regulatory changes via their official websites, mobile applications, airport check-in counters, and through direct messages. There will also be announcements made at boarding gates and onboard the aircraft. A representative from Korean Air stated, “The ban on in-flight power bank use is a crucial step to maintain the highest safety standards in flying, with passenger cooperation being vital.”

Previously, Korean Air and Hanjin Group airlines had adopted safety measures in alignment with the policies set forth by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Such measures include distributing insulation tape at check-in counters, providing fire-containment bags onboard, and fitting temperature-sensitive labels in overhead compartments for quicker overheating identification. Flight crew training has been significantly improved with specialized drills focusing on managing potential power bank fire situations.