Press Trust of India, Updated: May 30, 2024, 9:13 am IST
Singapore: In response to the severe turbulence experienced by Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on May 21, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has introduced more stringent safety measures. The turbulence incident resulted in the death of a passenger and injuries to dozens, prompting immediate changes in SIA's in-flight service protocol.
New Safety Protocols
SIA has mandated that all meal services must be suspended when the seatbelt sign is on, a significant change from the previous protocol where only hot drinks and soup were restricted, and meal service could continue at the crew’s discretion. This new policy aims to enhance safety for both passengers and crew during turbulent conditions.
Crew and Passenger Reactions
The Straits Times reported that some frequent fliers consider these changes hasty and believe they negatively impact the quality of in-flight service and increase stress levels for cabin crew. Crew members have expressed concerns about the difficulties of managing meal services within the reduced time available when turbulence occurs.
One flight attendant described experiencing over an hour of turbulence on a Singapore-India route, which left limited time to complete meal service. She noted that passengers often do not understand the necessity of these safety measures, leading to lower service ratings.
"We're stressed and fatigued, but at the moment there's nothing we can do except continue to navigate our work under the given circumstances," she said.
Adaptability in Aviation Safety
John Tan, a lead professional officer in air transport management at the Singapore Institute of Technology, emphasized the importance of adaptability in aviation safety. He stated that policy changes are essential for continuous safety improvement and highlighted the challenge of balancing safety with service quality.
"The objective is to reduce the time cabin crew have to spend on the aisles. For SIA, this could translate into retraining cabin crew to increase their efficiency or changing the way services are delivered without compromising service quality," Tan said.
Maintaining Service Standards
Despite the challenges, Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, believes that SIA's service quality will remain unaffected by the new protocols.
"The decision was arrived at after careful consideration and the urgent need to, first and foremost, prevent nasty injuries for passengers and crew in the future," he said.
Passenger Suggestions
Some netizens suggested that passengers should bring their own food and drinks on board in case meal service is suspended due to turbulence, particularly on short- and medium-haul flights.
Conclusion
While the new safety measures have prompted mixed reactions, the primary goal remains to ensure the safety of passengers and crew during flights. Singapore Airlines continues to navigate the challenges of maintaining high service standards while adapting to necessary safety protocols.