Shin Ramen Cup Noodles / Courtesy of Nongshim Mall

Korean Air will stop serving instant cup noodles to its passengers later this month due to the increased risk of turbulence, according to the country's flagship airline, Thursday.

Instead, it will serve "safer" alternatives, including sandwiches, corn dogs and hot pockets.

The company said that it will stop serving Shin Ramen Cup Noodles, the only instant noodle product the company has been serving between meals for long-haul flights from Aug. 15. It added that only economy passengers will be subject to the service change.

The company cited increased air turbulence as the reason, noting that unstable conditions have led to spills and disruptions when passengers eat the spicy noodle soup or when cabin crew serve it.

“The climate crisis has recently spiked the turbulence's frequency. Compared to 2019, the frequency has more than doubled this year,” a Korean Air official said. “Some passengers have suffered serious burns.”

The decision affects only economy seats, as their compact design leads to a greater risk of spills and injuries, unlike the more spacious business class seats.

“You know how one passenger starts slurping that noodle inside the cabin and more people are immediately enticed to order the same thing,” the official said.

“Then the cabin crews get busy preparing food and serving them, sometimes carrying multiple cups at once. When a plane at the same time hits turbulence and shakes, people can get hurt. It's especially true considering the cup's design that doesn't guarantee stability due to its small circular base.”

Instead of the instant noodles, Korean Air plans to provide a safer alternative with microwavable snacks like pizzas, corn dogs or hot pockets.

“We haven't decided which companies' products will replace Shin Ramen,” said the official. “We'll certainly monitor passengers' feedback and, if necessary, change our menu items to reflect majority trends.”