Korean Air has decided to discontinue the provision of instant cup noodles, commonly referred to as ramyeon in Korea, which necessitate boiling water, on its long-haul flights. This move is in response to the rising number of turbulence incidents.
The concern over turbulence has escalated following a severe incident on a Singapore Airlines flight from London in May, which resulted in one fatality and numerous injuries. Korean Air stated in a recent announcement that this decision is a proactive safety measure to prevent burn accidents due to increased turbulence.
The cup noodles have been a staple of the airline's in-flight offerings and have gained significant attention on social media. Last month, Korean Air acknowledged the rise in turbulence incidents and announced that it would conclude both long- and medium-haul cabin services 20 minutes earlier, finishing 40 minutes prior to landing.
Effective August 15, the airline will cease serving hot noodle cups to economy class passengers seated closely together. Instead, the snack options will include sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets.
Korean Air is among the 21 airlines that have joined the turbulence real-time data exchange platform initiated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2020.
