Korean Air beefs up flight turbulence safety measures

Korean Air's Operations & Customer Center at its headquarters in Gangseo District, Seoul / Courtesy of Korean Air

Korean Air is enhancing measures to protect passengers and crew from turbulence, as such incidents increase globally due to climate change.

According to Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, flag carriers have reported more than 6,000 cases of turbulence in the first quarter of this year, up nearly 80 percent from a year earlier.

Research by the University of Reading also noted that severe clear-air turbulence has increased by 55 percent over the North Atlantic since 1979 because of the impact of climate change. Clear-air turbulence is regarded as more dangerous as it is invisible and undetectable by in-flight weather radar.

To counter the lurking threat, Korean Air last year signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association to use the Turbulence Aware Platform, which enables safer operations even in unexpected turbulence. The platform enables Korean Air to tap into real-time turbulence data gathered from millions of flights operated by 21 member airlines worldwide, helping to ensure passenger safety.

In December last year, Korean Air remodeled its Operations & Customer Center (OCC) with the latest technology. The OCC monitors flight operations around the clock, ensuring aircraft reach their destinations safely and respond to any abnormal situations. It also oversees weather conditions, flight routes, takeoff and landing times, and even tracks the latest developments in international affairs.

The OCC is equipped with direct phone lines connected to aircraft in flight, allowing for real-time communication with flight crews and the ability to immediately respond to any unusual circumstances.

The OCC also plays its role in setting up carriers to cope with turbulence and establishing flight plans by navigating the safest route and altitude to each destination. If sudden turbulence is detected during a flight, the center collects and analyzes real-time data from the aircraft, providing immediate information to other planes that may be flying through the affected area.

Korean Air's B787-10 / Courtesy of Korean Air

As studies forecast that aircraft will likely experience clear-air turbulence during flights, Korean Air said it implemented changes to its in-flight services to prevent possible accidents and injuries.

Since July, Korean Air has been ending its cabin service by up to 20 minutes earlier on all mid- and long-haul routes, in order to have crew members focus more on safety procedures as aircraft descend because turbulence is more common at lower altitudes.

While ending cabin service sooner, the airline said it has been starting service delivery earlier to ensure the quality and quantity of service remain consistent. In line with this, Korean Air will stop serving instant cup noodles to its economy passengers from Aug. 15.

The company said the measure is designed to address diverse needs while ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew. Unlike business and higher class seats, the limited space of economy seats leads to a greater risk of spills and injuries in the event of turbulence, and cleaning up leftover spills is also a problem.

Instead of instant noodles, Korean Air plans to provide a safer alternative with microwavable snacks like pizzas, corn dogs or hot pockets. Regarding other food that needs hot water, the airliner said it will lower the temperature of the water.

“Korean Air is committed to maintaining safety as its absolute priority in light of the ongoing increase in turbulence incidents,” a Korean Air official said. “The airline plans to continue exploring various service measures to ensure both safety and passenger convenience.”