One of the world's top airlines will stop serving economy passengers in-flight instant noodles over fears of burns due to rising turbulence

02.08.2024 - 12:24 / insider.com

Korean Air is changing its in-flight snack service due to increased turbulence.

Instant noodles will no longer be an option for economy passengers from August 15, a spokesperson told Business Insider.

Instead, its economy-class offering will include snacks like sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets.

"This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents," the airline said in a statement.

"To enhance passenger satisfaction and diversify snack options, a self-service snack bar is available on long-haul flights," it added. "We are committed to ensuring passenger safety and will select snacks on each route based on customer preferences."

It's the South Korean flag carrier's latest move based on concerns about turbulence. The risks have been scrutinized more closely since a Singapore Airlines passenger died and dozens more were injured in a May incident.

Last month, Korean Air announced it would end its cabin services early due to increased concerns about turbulence.

In response to the May incident, Singapore Airlines said it would no longer serve meals when the seatbelt light is on.

Both airlines are among just 10 to be rated five stars by Skytrax, so they could set a precedent for other carriers.

In its previous move, Korean Air said turbulence had "become a persistent and growing problem in recent years." It added that the number of incidents had doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2019.

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It also suggested the climate crisis had had an impact, citing "large temperature differences between altitudes."

Turbulence is created when differences in wind speed result in more friction between air molecules. The warming climate imparts more energy into the air, which creates more friction.

This is especially notable around the jet streams, where clear-air turbulence is most prevalent.

In a 2023 study, researchers from the University of Reading found turbulence was getting more common over the North Atlantic, around the north polar jet stream.

At a typical point, the most severe type of clear-air turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020, the study found.