Korean Air bans instant noodles over turbulence fears

End of an era as airline ditches popular snack over worries about scolding passengers when plane suffers unexpected drop. Photo / 123rf

Korean Air has announced it will stop serving its beloved instant cup noodles because of increased turbulence fears.

The popular, but boiling hot, snack will be ditched in economy class in favour of “safer”, colder alternatives after a series of messy incidents and injuries.

“This decision is part of proactive safety measures in response to increased turbulence, aimed at preventing burn accidents,” Korean Air said in a statement.

The cup noodles, which require boiling hot water, are a much-loved and readily devoured part of the airline’s in-flight service and feature heavily on its social media.

“You know how one passenger starts slurping that noodle inside the cabin and more people are immediately enticed to order the same thing,” a Korean Air official told The Korea Times.

“Then the cabin crews get busy preparing food and serving them, sometimes carrying multiple cups at once. When a plane at the same time hits turbulence and shakes, people can get hurt,” they added.

The new era of noodle-less flights will be ushered in from mid-August and instead customers will be offered sandwiches or microwavable snacks like pizzas and hot pockets, the airline said.

Korean Air will stop serving instant noodles in mid-August and offer their passengers sandwiches and other microwavable snacks.

The change, however, will only affect tightly packed economy seats as they pose a greater risk of spills and injuries compared to the spacious business class section.

Concerns about turbulence on planes have heightened since a British passenger was killed and dozens more injured onboard a Singapore Airlines flight from London in May.

Last month, Korean Air said that it would be wrapping up cabin services 20 minutes earlier before landing in response to bumpier flight conditions.

The national airline is one dozens tightening in-flight measures to adjust to what scientists say will be a more turbulent future due to climate change.

Passengers are being told to sit with fastened seatbelts for longer, fewer meals are being served, and rules are set to be introduced banning children under the age of two travelling on a parent’s lap.