SEOUL, Jan 23 (Kyodo/APP): Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea’s flag carrier, and its four affiliate airlines will ban the in-flight use of power banks starting next week amid growing safety concerns, Hanjin Group said Friday.
The top carrier and its four sister airlines — Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul — will ban travelers from charging smartphones and other electronic devices with power banks during flights starting Monday, the group said in a release.
Hanjin Group said while passengers are allowed to bring power banks into the cabin, they must be kept in a separate pouch, stored within personal reach and not placed in overhead bins.
“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,” the company said in the release.
“Korean Air remains fully committed to providing a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience for all customers,” it added.
In October, South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet Co. became the country’s first airline to ban the in-flight use of power banks. Jeju Air Co., another budget carrier, adopted the policy this week.
Concerns over in-flight battery bank usage have increased after a major fire incident involving an Air Busan aircraft at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in January 2025.