Sir - The recent stand made by a group of UK charter carriers against low-quality flight operations is long overdue (Flight International, 12-18 July, P8 and Letters, 26 July-1 August, P39).
In all markets, passengers are price-sensitive, but they are also quality-conscious. Premium-class passengers, in particular, have become quite knowledgeable, via the media, about the in-flight service they can expect from a particular airline. Carriers, which have gained a reputation for excellence, have reaped rich rewards.
Perhaps it is time for the industry to remove some of the mystique, which surrounds the technical aspects of aviation and give the travelling public the right to an informed choice. I think that most passengers would be happy to pay a little extra if they knew what they were getting for their money.
There are bodies (the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations springs to mind) capable of collating and distributing a layman's guide for media consumption. The contents should include crew experience, training criteria and the quality of the equipment and maintenance available. Airlines, which meet or exceed a list of basic norms, would have much to gain. Those, which do not will be encouraged by market forces to improve.
Capt. STEVE LANG
Stanley, Hong Kong
Source: Flight International
