Seoul, January 23, 2026. Korean Air and four Hanjin Group airlines – Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul – will prohibit the use of power banks on board starting January 26 to strengthen safety measures.

Under the new policy, passengers on flights operated by the five airlines will no longer be permitted to use power banks to charge electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or cameras.

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 the metal charging ports with insulating tape or store each battery in a separate plastic bag or pouch. All power banks must be kept within reach – on the passenger, in the seat-back pocket, or under the seat in front – and must not be stored in the overhead compartments.

Korean Air and other Hanjin Group airlines will inform their customers about the updated regulations via their official websites, mobile apps, airport check-in counters, and notifications. Announcements will also be made at boarding gates and on board the aircraft.

With an increasing number of in-flight fires caused by lithium-ion power banks, the aviation industry has emphasized the need to tighten cabin regulations to ensure flight safety.

“The prohibition of power bank use during flights is a necessary measure to ensure the highest standards of flight safety, and passenger cooperation is essential,” said a Korean Air representative. “Korean Air remains firmly committed to providing all customers with a safe and comfortable travel experience.”

Prior to this decision, Korean Air and the other Hanjin Group airlines had already implemented preventive measures in line with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s guidelines. These include providing insulating tape to prevent short circuits at check-in counters and boarding gates, equipping aircraft with fire containment bags, and attaching temperature-sensitive stickers to overhead compartments to enable faster detection of overheating.

Cabin crew training has also been enhanced, with special drills for power bank-related fires introduced in addition to standard fire safety exercises.

________

Suitable image material is available for download here. Please note the copyright © Korean Air. 

Press Contact:
BZ.COMM GmbH
Steffen Hager | Marvin Korndörfer | Anna Heuer
Hanauer Landstrasse 136 | 60314 Frankfurt am Main
E: Koreanair@bz-comm.de | T: +49 69 256 28 88 26

About Korean Air
For over 55 years, Korean Air has been one of the world's top 20 airlines, carrying more than 23 million passengers in 2024. From its global hub at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 116 cities in 39 countries across five continents with a modern fleet of 165 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.

Korean Air's outstanding performance and commitment to the highest levels of safety and customer service are widely recognized. The airline has received numerous awards, including a 5-star rating from Skytrax and the "Airline of the Year" title from both Air Transport World and Airline Ratings.

Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and has become one of the largest trans-Pacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines. 

For more information about Korean Air, please visit koreanair.com, facebook.com/KoreanAir, Google.com/+KoreanAir_KE, and X @KoreanAir_KE.

Privacy Notice:
If you no longer wish to receive press releases or invitations from us, you can contact us at datenschutz@bz-comm.de to unsubscribe. Further information on our privacy policy can be found on our website.