Korean Air ends in-flight service 40 minutes before landing over turbulence concerns
In May, SIA said it would stop serving meals and hot beverages when the seat belt sign is turned on, after extreme turbulence hit flight SQ321.
Korean Air's passenger planes are parked on the tarmac at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, on Mar 24, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Heo Ran)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
Korean Air has changed its cabin service protocols over turbulence concerns, following in the footsteps of Singapore Airlines (SIA).
“Starting Jul 1, Korean Air will wrap up cabin services on all medium and long-haul routes 40 minutes before landing, 20 minutes earlier than previously,” said the airline on Monday (Jul 1).
“This service procedure change will allow inflight services to end before the airplane begins its descent to land.”
A recent spate of incidents involving severe turbulence that have resulted in injuries, prompting some airlines reviewing their safety procedures.
On Monday, dozens of passengers were injured when an Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay hit strong turbulence, forcing an emergency landing in Brazil.
In May, Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered extreme turbulence that left a 73-year-old passenger dead and others critically injured.
That incident prompted Singapore's national carrier to stop serving meals and hot beverages when the seat belt sign is turned on.
The new measure is part of a "more cautious approach" to managing turbulence in-flight, SIA said in May.
“Turbulence has become a persistent and growing problem in recent years with the number of incidents doubling in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2019,” said Korean Air.
“Turbulence is becoming more frequent, especially as the aircraft descends, due to large temperature differences between altitudes. This is why Korean Air cabin services will now end before the aircraft begins its descent.”
The carrier added that an alert along with the fasten seat belt sign will activate when its aircraft passes through areas of possible turbulence. When the sign is switched on, passengers will have to follow the crew’s instructions, and return to their seats and fasten their seatbelts.
While most common causes of turbulence can normally be detected by weather radar, allowing pilots to fly around them, some types of turbulence are nearly impossible to detect or predict.
Dubbed clear-air turbulence (CAT), which experts have posited was what struck flight SQ321, it can cause damage to aircraft and those inside, and some scientists are warning this could worsen due to climate change.
Scientists have warned that severe turbulence has jumped by 55 per cent in the past 40 years, and is expected to increase further due to the impact of climate change.
“Encounters with sudden turbulence or the unpredictable phenomenon of clear-air turbulence (CAT) are common. Therefore, wearing a seat belt at all times is the best way to ensure safety during flight,” said Korean Air.
The airline advised passengers to store their carry-on baggage in the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of them to prevent injuries in the case of sudden turbulence.
“In light of the recent turbulence trends, the airline is undertaking a comprehensive review of service strategies to ensure the highest standards of safety and travel experience for its passengers,” it added.
