All 11 airlines operating passenger flights in South Korea have now banned the use of portable power banks during flights, following a series of fire and smoke incidents involving the devices.
T'way Air announced on the 21st that it will prohibit in-flight power bank use starting January 23, completing the industry-wide adoption of the restriction. Passengers needing to charge devices are advised to use seat power ports or fully charge their devices before boarding.
Power banks may still be brought on board but must follow strict safety protocols. Passengers are required to cover terminals with insulating tape or store each unit separately in plastic bags or individual pouches to prevent short circuits. The devices must be kept in visible locations such as seat-back pockets.
Eastar Jet was the first to implement the ban, launching a pilot program in October last year before full adoption this year. Jeju Air followed on December 22, while five Hanjin Group carriers—Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul—implemented restrictions on December 26. Air Premia and Aero K began enforcing the ban on January 1.
The measures follow multiple incidents. In January last year, an Air Busan aircraft preparing for takeoff at Gimhae International Airport was completely destroyed by a power bank fire. In October, an Air China flight from Hangzhou to Incheon made an emergency landing at Pudong International Airport due to a power bank fire. Last month, separate incidents occurred on an Asiana flight to Hong Kong and a T'way flight from Sanya, China to Cheongju.
The restrictions mirror global trends. Germany's Lufthansa banned in-flight power bank use from December 15, while Emirates implemented its ban in October last year. Japan is reportedly planning to extend the prohibition to all Japan-departing flights starting April.
However, passengers on aircraft without charging ports face potential inconvenience. While Korean Air and Asiana offer charging facilities on most flights, low-cost carriers often have limited availability depending on aircraft type.
"If a power bank catches fire mid-flight, it can quickly escalate into an uncontrollable accident," an airline industry official said. "We sincerely ask for passenger cooperation despite some inconvenience until more in-flight charging ports are installed."