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CAAS stepping up efforts to raise awareness of airline service levels
SINGAPORE : The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is stepping up efforts to raise awareness on what service levels travellers can expect from airlines.
Transport Minister Mr Raymond Lim said this in a written answer to Marine Parade GRC MP Lim Biow Chuan regarding imposing minimum service standards on budget airlines.
Mr Lim said efforts include what to look out for when purchasing air tickets, and avenues of recourse in the event of airline service lapses.
He said passengers affected by airline service lapses have various avenues of recourse.
They can take up the matter directly with the airline, seek assistance from the Consumer Association of Singapore if transactions were carried out in Singapore, or lodge a claim with the Small Claims Tribunal.
Where there are unfair practices, recourse is further available under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.
Mr Lim said the ministry is aware that complaints on low cost carriers' service standards have increased in recent years.
But unlike aviation safety standards which need to be strictly regulated by CAAS in the interest of public safety, there is no compelling case for regulating service offerings by airlines operating at Changi Airport.
The ministry's approach has been to allow market forces to influence the level of service standards offered by the airlines.
He said there is a need to be mindful that regulatory intervention will ultimately drive up air travel costs and stifle innovation in the air travel market.
CAAS will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with stakeholders, including airlines and operator Changi Airport Group, to ensure the travelling public is well served through a fair, open and competitive air travel market.
- CNA/ms
Taken off Channel News Asia
SINGAPORE : The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is stepping up efforts to raise awareness on what service levels travellers can expect from airlines.
Transport Minister Mr Raymond Lim said this in a written answer to Marine Parade GRC MP Lim Biow Chuan regarding imposing minimum service standards on budget airlines.
Mr Lim said efforts include what to look out for when purchasing air tickets, and avenues of recourse in the event of airline service lapses.
He said passengers affected by airline service lapses have various avenues of recourse.
They can take up the matter directly with the airline, seek assistance from the Consumer Association of Singapore if transactions were carried out in Singapore, or lodge a claim with the Small Claims Tribunal.
Where there are unfair practices, recourse is further available under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act.
Mr Lim said the ministry is aware that complaints on low cost carriers' service standards have increased in recent years.
But unlike aviation safety standards which need to be strictly regulated by CAAS in the interest of public safety, there is no compelling case for regulating service offerings by airlines operating at Changi Airport.
The ministry's approach has been to allow market forces to influence the level of service standards offered by the airlines.
He said there is a need to be mindful that regulatory intervention will ultimately drive up air travel costs and stifle innovation in the air travel market.
CAAS will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with stakeholders, including airlines and operator Changi Airport Group, to ensure the travelling public is well served through a fair, open and competitive air travel market.
- CNA/ms
Taken off Channel News Asia