The Pursuit of Adventure

Are budget airlines safe?

Budget airlines are a blessing for travellers worldwide. From a to b for less than the cost of a train or bus fare and in a fraction of the time has meant more people travelling and more money for the fun parts of travelling.

Like beer.

However, controversy has been brewing in Australia recently. Australia has 3 budget airlines: Virginblue, Jetstar and Singaporean Tiger Airways.

Recently, some Tiger Airways committed a series of breaches of aviation security.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), a government funded organisation grounded Tiger Airways for failing to comply with Australian Aviation standards.

Breach

Tiger Airways had to show-cause to CASA in March over issues of pilot training, fatigue and qualifications of operational managers.

On June 7, a Tiger Airways jet flew dangerously low on approach to Melbourne’s Avalon airport and narrowly avoided missing a jet from another airline on an approach.

All of this adds up to unsafe skies for travellers.

Dangerous practices are happening worldwide. In order to cut costs to the $10 deals that we have come to expect, cost-cutting is occurring in repairs, maintenance, and staffing.

In 2009, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam slammed unsafe practices by Jetstar Pacific Airlines, part-owned by Australian airline Qantas. Apparently, maintenance staff were not supervised properly and took shortcuts with repairs and other maintenance tasks.

Stranded

35,000 travellers were stranded as a result of the grounding of Tiger Airways this week. This could have been so much worse if a tired, inexperienced pilot made a negligent mistake in the cockpit.

As the aviation saying goes, ‘if you think safety is expensive, try having a accident’.

World

But what happens in other countries? Do they have an aviation watchdog ensuring world class safety standards, and how can you be sure you’re not putting your life at risk by flying budget?

Budget airlines in modern, developed countries with stringent safety standards are as safe as flying with any full-price airline. What is missing is the service.

But in industrialising countries, you are taking a very serious risk flying with a budget airline.

Are you willing to risk your life to save $100?

I’ve flown on a few budget airlines. Air Asia and Tiger Airways among them. When I was in Borneo, just 6 months ago, an Air Asia flight overshot the runway and wasn’t able to stop. No one was injured, but I definitely thought twice about getting on that same flight 2 days later.

Tiger is far worse than Air Asia though. The staff are generally terse and incredibly young (not that that really means anything). It all gives the impression of dodginess, and I doubt that I would fly with them again if CASA lifts the ban.

Ultimately, you have to make your own decisions about who you fly with. Be informed, take notice of crazy airline names (like One Two Go, or Tiger), listen to your instinct, and don’t board an airplane that is held together with 1000 mile an hour tape.

Because planes go faster than that.

Have you ever been on a dodgy flight?

(Image by  Fred Vloo / RNW)