Photo: Ms. Cassandra Chiu and her dog Esme on board Tigerair; Tigerair
Tigerair may soon allow guide dogs to accompany their visually-impaired owners on flights.
Earlier this week, the regional budget carrier worked with the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind to test the feasibility of the policy, by flying Ms. Cassandra Chiu and her guide dog Esme to Phuket.
In a conference, Ms. Chiu said she was happy that Tigerair was making travel more accessible for those with disabilities, and assured that guide dogs are well-trained and won't disturb other passengers during the flight. She also revealed that the animals would usually sleep and not need to relieve themselves as they aren't allowed to eat or drink 12 hours before flying and are kept hydrated with ice cubes.
Other initiatives rolled out by Tigerair towards realising the move include training cabin crew to better assist passengers with impairments and to secure a guide dog to its seat in case of flight turbulence.
Tigerair, which did not permit a visually-impaired man to board one of its flights with his guide dog in 2012, used to be apprehensive about the arrangement due to the "religious and individual sensitivities of some passengers". They were also concerned over safety procedures during flight turbulence.
But at the conference, Tigerair COO Mr. Ho Yuen Sang emphasised this change in policy is in line with the company's "care and concern for customers requiring special assistance", and said the company's latest move
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Photo: Ms. Cassandra Chiu and her dog Esme on board Tigerair; Tigerair
Tigerair may soon allow guide dogs to accompany their visually-impaired owners on flights.
Earlier this week, the regional budget carrier worked with the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind to test the feasibility of the policy, by flying Ms. Cassandra Chiu and her guide dog Esme to Phuket.
In a conference, Ms. Chiu said she was happy that Tigerair was making travel more accessible for those with disabilities, and assured that guide dogs are well-trained and won't disturb other passengers during the flight. She also revealed that the animals would usually sleep and not need to relieve themselves as they aren't allowed to eat or drink 12 hours before flying and are kept hydrated with ice cubes.
Other initiatives rolled out by Tigerair towards realising the move include training cabin crew to better assist passengers with impairments and to secure a guide dog to its seat in case of flight turbulence.
Tigerair, which did not permit a visually-impaired man to board one of its flights with his guide dog in 2012, used to be apprehensive about the arrangement due to the "religious and individual sensitivities of some passengers". They were also concerned over safety procedures during flight turbulence.
But at the conference, Tigerair COO Mr. Ho Yuen Sang emphasised this change in policy is in line with the company's "care and concern for customers requiring special assistance", and said the company's latest move
Read Also:
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