Turbulence makes cup noodles disappear from in-flight snack

Korean Air has decided to stop serving cup noodles to its long-haul economy class passengers. This is to prevent burns as turbulence increases rapidly due to climate change. Korean Air said on August 1 that it would revamp its in-flight snack service on long-haul routes, stopping serving cup noodles in economy class and replacing them with sandwiches and corn dogs from the 15th.

This is due to the recent sharp increase in turbulence, a phenomenon in which air flows suddenly and irregularly, and its power has become stronger. The frequency of turbulence has more than doubled this year compared to 2019, according to Korean Air. As climate change has warmed the air, the updraft has become stronger, and the jet stream flowing in the upper troposphere has also changed, making it more common for airplanes to encounter turbulence.

“In economy class, passengers are more densely packed than in upper classes, and the tables are smaller, so there is a greater risk of burning not only for the passenger eating the ramen but also the passenger next to them,” said a Korean Air official.

Instead of cup noodles, Korean Air plans to offer sandwiches, corn dogs, pizza, and hot pockets as snacks.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.