WhaT Did I Say About Low Cost Or Otherwise Budget Airlines?

Singapore
October 3, 2009 2:09am CST
I have never felt comfortable about these low cost or budget airlines since their emergence and with this article, it just backed my earlier concerns and it is not without a reason(s). For one, I travel quite extensively with full cost reputable airlines and have really some conversations with their top managements. Let me assure you that their margins have not been encouraging and with the emergence of these low cost airlines you can imagine what is happening here, especially with these low budget airlines. These are low cost airlines and with the keen competition in the industry - price war is just inevitable and rampant. Yet, I wonder if these companies are really making enough to cover vital aircraft maintenances and pilot trainings. Then, with the recent economic downturn, with every company (airlines not spared) being forced to trim or rather cut cost to stay viable. I really cannot help wondering what and how are these budget airlines going to cut and trim? Well, if you are getting where my concerns are, then you have get it without the need of second guessing me here - aircraft maintenance and pilot training! Timely and scary revelations here, my fellow traveling friends! In case you are questioning about the credentials of the report, then let me assure you that they were being backed and revealed by the reputed Civil Aviation Authority (UK), BALPA (UK) and Flight International (UK). Let me assure you that whatever they have revealed are really factual scary! They actually confirmed that these airlines' pilots are not having enough actual flight training. Which is understandable due to demand and supply, flight frequency and cost trimming reasons. Since these pilots spends most of their time with flight simulators, the aviation watchdogs then concludes that these pilots are ill prepared for real life emergencies and would really be rendered ineffective when there are situations that requires them to take over manually. Can you believe this? I do not know about you but I am just appalled here. So, give these airlines due consideration before deciding on them before you embark on your next trip with them. I am really or rather, have never been comfortable with them and this report is just confirming my doubts here. Ref: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1217770/Cost-cutting-airlines-risk-safety-passengers-warns-aviation-watchdog.html
5 responses
2timothy
@2timothy (794)
• Philippines
3 Oct 09
Air safety can never be compromised, all airline companies know that once one plane goes wrong, the whole fleet is grounded and no passengers would dare ride it even how low the price would go (at least for a period of time until memory fades). The reason budget airlines can offer lower cost is because of the basic management philosophy that by lowering fares they can get full-packed flights and can quickly have return on capitals.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
3 Oct 09
2timothy, Unfortunately, let me assure you that it does not take one air crash to ground their operations and had never happened. I just feel that with the current air disasters indicating to faulty aircraft structures, it is just worrying as there is no way to ensure that aircrafts are being well maintained and serviced. So, until the regulators find a way to resolve this rampant issue, I am afraid to say that none of us are spared and the safety of these aircrafts will never be a 100% assurance. In case, you do not know, budget airlines are also having a difficult time with load capacity and more than 50% of their flights are below optimum capacity. So, with this knowledge do you think you will not worry at the prospects of the airlines maintenance. This article is just timely and hope that the aviation regulators and government bodies would form protocols and departments to perform safety and aircraft maintenance audits.
asem93
@asem93 (48)
•
3 Oct 09
I for one would continue to fly with whether its Nok Air or Air Asia. Perhaps not so much with 1. Simply becuase the 2 can co with their older planes. You can give your thoughts and more importantly your vote. And please refrain from flaming, or opinions that you do not to give. I personally feel that Ryan Air the other budget airlines are a handful and very good in fact down to the matter of fact that they do actually give you an option tio fly cheeply. So, Personally I have nothing against the Budget Airlines.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
3 Oct 09
asem93, What do you understand about terms like flaming and opinions? Oh, please care to clarify your very own statement and I quote: "...or opinions that you do not to give" And, in case you forget I have actually enclosed a reference link to a reported article, did you read it before responding? Here it is for you again: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1217770/Cost-cutting-airlines-risk-safety-passengers-warns-aviation-watchdog.html Spare yourself sometime and digest before you erroneously accuse me of flaming or giving my own opinions, when I am airing my concerns. Incidentally, I do not have anything against budget airlines including full cost ones as long as they can ensure that their aircraft are properly maintained and safety is being ensured. BTW, why are you mindful if the planes are older or younger? I bet you my bottom dollar here that it isn't about some interior designs of the cabins. Have a nice day in UK.
ikot1ci
@ikot1ci (52)
• Singapore
3 Oct 09
In my opinion, they are perfectly fine. Do you think the government would allow us to fly in unsafe aircraft? I'm sure they just reduce costs by not providing food, arriving in the budget terminal and stuff.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
3 Oct 09
ikot1ci, Let me set a poser and hope that it will open your mind here. First of all, did you know that the government currently does not have a neutral department to audit the airlines in the department of aircraft maintenance, even in Singapore? If you care to notice, most governments' roles are just regulating and allowing air traffic and space into their countries. Whatever goes on within each airline company is never being scrutinized at all. So, how will the government actually know if the airlines is being safe at all? Just how much cost is there to cut after not providing meals on board and using the budget terminal, when the demand is low especially the low season? Ask yourself how many long holidays are there in Singapore? How many low cost airlines are there plying in Singapore compared against the traveling population? Also, if you notice the recent spate of air disasters, you will notice that they are full cost airlines. Now, I am not going to speculate or exaggerate but spare a thought what is happening in the background of these low cost carriers. Now, with this article, are you believing that if the government can do anything to ensure the aviation safety? How can they do it when there is never any auditing of what is going on with their maintenance?
cylsmercado
@cylsmercado (7)
• Philippines
3 Oct 09
I think budget airlines are ok. I was able to travel from Singapore to manila without hassle. At first I feel bad when I found out that my employer in Singapore booked me in one of the budget airlines. But then I figured out that it's much better than the flag carrier of the Philippines. There is no delay. unlike the other airlines when I first came to Singapore, I've waited for 2 hours. To think they claimed that they are the leading airline in our country.
1 person likes this
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
3 Oct 09
cylsmercado, Aviation safety is a really of concern nowadays and punctuality just cannot be a good gauge for this concern. Till date, there is just no authorized neutral party auditing the operations and maintenance of the airline companies. Having traveled extensively, I am just concern about how these issues can be resolved in the near future.
NurseMathilda
@NurseMathilda (289)
• Spain
4 Oct 09
I find low cost airline just fine. In fact, 2 of my travels were from a low cost carrier airline. The only downside though is that because these are cheap flights, there is no free food. However, they cater foods which you can buy from the stewardess. It's not at all bad. My experiences so far with Tigerairways and CebuPacific both went well. But then again, to each his own. If you feel safer and more convenient with your preferred airlines, then it is better especially if you can afford it. :)
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
4 Oct 09
NurseMathilda, I think I must point out that a good and smooth flight could not or rather should not be mistakenly taken for to take it that the aircraft is safe. I am sure that you are aware that there are a lot of intricacies in the structure of an aircraft and everything is just as delicate as a flower. It is also a fact that there have been a lot of negative accounts with Tiger Air's services both on the ground and air already, and there had been quite a lot of bad press. The latest being they refuse to fly into Padang, Indonesia to pick up their passengers as according to schedule. And, it just makes me wonder the reason behind. With this reported article, my sole concern (as it had always been) is if these airlines can be truly safe when there is simply NO audits done on their repairs and maintenance. FYI, the recent statistics have shown that the air crashes were coming from budget airlines as well. The companies may be new but it is a fact that most of their fleets are actually leased (old) aircrafts. There are some links in my other responses, have a read if you have the time and you will see further into my concerns here.
skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
4 Oct 09
P.S. Sorry for the typo error in the 1st para. It should be: "I think I must point out that a good and smooth flight could not or rather should not be mistakenly represent that the aircraft is safe."