Turbulence removes instant noodles from Korean Air’s economy menu

NEW YORK (AP) — Turbulence is removing a beloved instant noodle offering from Korean Air’s economy menu.

Cups of Shin Ramyun instant noodles, a favorite among Korean Air travelers over the years, will no longer be available to economy class passengers starting August 15, a spokesperson for the Seoul-based airline said.

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

The instant noodles are currently part of Korean Air’s in-flight snack service, a self-serve bar in addition to meals available to economy passengers on long-haul flights. In this week’s announcement, the carrier added that it had “revamped” the economy’s snack options and would instead include offerings like sandwiches, corn dogs and hot bags.

But business and first class passengers still get their noodles. Korean air told the BBC that the noodles are delivered individually to business and first class travelers, reducing the risk of spillage.

Concerns about the dangers of serving hot food and liquids on airplanes are not new. Several carriers have done this over the years faced lawsuits from customers who say they have suffered serious burns after, for example, having hot coffee poured over them during a flight. And while legal precedent may differ around the world, so does the European Union’s highest court ruled in 2019 that an airline can be held liable if a passenger is injured in this way, even if turbulence or other flight-related factors did not cause the spill.

But turbulence obviously still increases the risk. Flying through unstable air can make balancing something like soup or a hot drink during the flight all the more precarious.

Numerous turbulence-related injuries Reports have been made over the years, but most incidents are minor – and airlines have made steady improvements in reducing accidents. These include suspending cabin service when necessary or taking extra caution when handing out certain refreshments.

Still, it can become increasingly difficult to avoid rough air. Some meteorologists and aviation analysts note that reports of turbulence are increasing, highlighting the potential impact climate change could have on flying conditions.