South Korean airlines ban in-flight use of power banks

The airlines, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul, now prohibit passengers from using power banks to charge phones or other electronic devices during flights.

The group said passengers are still allowed to carry power banks in the cabin, but they must be kept in a separate pouch, stored within personal reach, and not placed in overhead bins, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"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 an announcement on Jan. 23.

Several international airlines have issued similar restrictions since the beginning of this month. On Jan. 15, Lufthansa Group, the Swiss-based parent company of Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines, announced passengers were not allowed to use power banks during flights.

A day later, Fiji Airways banned the use of power banks on flights operated by Fiji Airways and Fiji Link. Late last year, Emirates, as well as Australian carriers Virgin Australia and Qantas, also applied the restriction.

In South Korea, Eastar Jet became the first domestic carrier to prohibit in-cabin use in October last year, followed by Jeju Air, which has enforced a similar ban starting Jan. 22, the Chosun Daily reported.

The latest decision by Hanjin Group comes amid rising safety concerns over portable batteries, following repeated reports of in-flight fires linked to power banks.

In January last year, an Air Busan passenger jet caught fire before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, southern South Korea. A battery pack stored in an overhead bin was identified as the cause, according to The Korea Times. Air Busan later banned passengers from placing power banks in overhead compartments.

Power banks use lithium batteries, the same type found in devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and electronic cigarettes. Under international aviation standards, passengers are prohibited from placing lithium batteries in checked luggage due to the risk of large fires if they short-circuit or are damaged by manufacturing defects.