Along with subsidiary airlines also owned by Hanjin Group, Korean Air is toughening up rules on passengers using power banks on flights over safety concerns.
On January 23, 2026, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul announced that the in-flight use of power banks will be banned from January 26, 2026, as part of enhanced safety measures.
The new policy means that passengers will not be allowed to use power banks to charge electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, or cameras while inside the aircraft.
A spokesperson for the airlines said: “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.”
Additionally, all power banks must be kept within arm’s reach and must not be stored in the overhead bins. The airlines suggest they should be kept on the passenger, in the seatback pocket, or under the seat in front.
⚠️🚩 Accident survenu à l’ @Airbus #A321 immatriculé HL7763 exploité par #AirBusan le 28/01/25 à l’aéroport de #Busan en Corée du Sud / Travail sur site en cours (enquête dirigée par ARAIB – publication avec leur accord).
⚠️ 🚩Accident to the @Airbus #A321 registered HL7763… pic.twitter.com/dHqIJfW072— BEA ✈️ ⚙️🔬🇫🇷 (@BEA_Aero) January 31, 2025
“To prevent short circuits, passengers must cover metal charging ports with electrical tape or place each battery in a separate plastic bag or pouch,” the spokesperson added.
Korean Air and the other Hanjin airlines had already taken steps to limit the danger posed by devices such as power banks, imposing measures in line with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport policies.
These include providing insulation tape for short-circuit prevention at check-in counters and boarding gates; 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 specialized drills for power bank fire scenarios in addition to standard fire response training.
As of March 2025, passengers traveling with South Korean airlines have been banned from storing lithium-ion power banks and e-cigarettes in overhead storage compartments.
“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,” said a Korean Air representative. “Korean Air remains fully committed to providing a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience for all customers.”
The dangers of potential power bank fires on flights were brought into focus after a serious fire incident on an Air Busan aircraft just before takeoff at Busan Gimhae International Airport (PUS) on January 28, 2024.
In March 2025, authorities announced that the fire was likely caused by a power bank battery stored in an overhead bin.
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