[비즈한국] Domestic airlines have implemented a radical measure of 'completely banning the use of portable chargers in-flight' following a series of lithium battery fire incidents. However, as passengers on older aircraft lacking charging facilities are set to become 'charging refugees,' there are concerns that this will lead to a new issue of 'charging polarization.'
According to the aviation industry on the 24th, five airlines under Hanjin Group will ban the use of portable chargers to charge electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet PCs, laptops, and cameras in-flight starting the 26th. This policy will apply to domestic and international flights operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air272450, Air Busan298690, and Air Seoul.
Before them, Eastar Jet operated a pilot policy banning the use of portable chargers in-flight from October to December last year and shifted to a total ban starting this year. Jeju Air089590 also banned the use of portable chargers in-flight starting from the 22nd.
While passengers cannot use portable chargers in-flight, they may still carry them according to existing entry regulations regarding capacity and quantity limits. Passengers must take short-circuit prevention measures, such as storing each charger individually in plastic bags or separate pouches, and must keep them in a space immediately accessible to them, such as the seat pocket in front of them, rather than in overhead bins.
Airlines have adopted these high-intensity regulations because concerns over in-flight fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have been rising. Lithium-ion batteries, which use liquid electrolytes, are structurally vulnerable to shock and heat. In particular, 'thermal runaway' occurs frequently, where a battery falls into the narrow gaps between aircraft seats and gets crushed, or the internal temperature rises rapidly during charging and discharging, leading to an explosion. If a thermal runaway event occurs during a flight and leads to a fire, it is difficult to respond effectively, leading to significant fears of horrific consequences.
In fact, on the 10th, smoke emerged from a passenger's portable charger on a T'way Air international flight departing from Sanya International Airport in Hainan, China, bound for Cheongju International Airport. Three flight attendants who attempted to extinguish it inhaled smoke and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment upon arrival at Cheongju International Airport. In December 2024, a commotion occurred on an Air Busan international flight from Busan to Fukuoka when smoke was detected from a portable charger, forcing the flight to halt pre-takeoff preparations and return from the runway to the boarding gate.
However, critics point out that these strengthened regulations increase passenger inconvenience. As smartphones have become a 'digital lifeline' that replaces mobile IDs and wallets, and handles work tasks and streaming media during flights, the charging restriction could impose a fear of 'digital isolation' beyond simple inconvenience. In particular, if a battery drains during a long-haul flight, essential connections for daily life, such as arrival procedures or paying for transportation immediately after landing, could be severed.
With the in-flight use of portable chargers banned, the only options left for passengers are the USB ports or 220V power outlets installed in the aircraft seats. Checking in advance whether the flight is equipped with charging ports is expected to become an essential part of the travel process.
The problem is that while the latest models of large carriers are relatively well-equipped with seat power infrastructure, many major models used by some low-cost carriers (LCCs) lack charging facilities in economy seats. This creates a potential for a new 'charging polarization' controversy, where some passengers can charge their devices while others cannot, depending on the aircraft type.
In response, the industry is looking toward all-solid-state battery technology in the long term. All-solid-state batteries are a next-generation technology that replaces the liquid electrolyte, the main cause of fires, with a solid one. Conventional liquid electrolytes are sensitive to temperature changes and can cause an immediate explosion if the separator is damaged and the anode and cathode meet. In contrast, solid electrolytes are structurally rigid and serve as a separator; even if damaged, they do not leak or ignite, making them a 'dream battery' that does not explode even when punctured or torn.