Long delays hit 2 Scoot flights
There were raised voices at Changi Airport yesterday as passengers expressed anger and frustration about a Scoot flight being delayed by a day.
It was the second time in two days that a Scoot flight was delayed overnight. And it left holidaymakers on their way to Australia and those returning from Hong Kong fuming.
Flight TZ8 to Perth, which was scheduled to leave at 12.10pm on Saturday, was delayed by 22 ½ hours. It took off at 10.42am yesterday.
Earlier, TZ221, which was scheduled to leave Hong Kong for Singapore at 7.10am on Friday, was delayed by about 36 hours, and took off only on Saturday evening.
Scoot said TZ8 "was delayed at Changi Airport due to a technical issue and we regret the delay has inconvenienced our guests".
The flight was re-scheduled to 9.50am yesterday, according to Scoot's Facebook page. It finally took off almost another hour later.
In an e-mail sent to Scoot, one passenger claimed that the flight was "delayed six times with different reasons", The Straits Times reported on its website.
Passengers were asked to board the plane, then disembark twice and finally asked to return home without any reimbursement for taxi fares, the report quoted recruitment consultant Anny Ho as writing.
The affected passengers on TZ221 were provided with accommodation at a Hong Kong hotel, according to Scoot's Facebook updates on Friday.
DISAPPOINTMENT
Ms Ho expressed her disappointment with Scoot's offer of travel vouchers in compensation and said that the hotel and car that she had booked in Australia "are all going down the drain".
She also sent two YouTube videos of the scene at the Changi Airport after the news that the flight would be delayed overnight was announced.
Stranded passengers could be seen shouting at a man who appeared to be a "handling agent" for Scoot.
Scoot said in a statement to The Straits Times: "A delayed flight can be frustrating for passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted but Scoot would like to emphasise that safety is our top priority. We seek the kind understanding and patience of all the affected guests."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
