In-Flight Safety Reassessed: The Fallout from Singapore Airlines' Turbulence Policy

Abstract

<p align="justify">After a fatal turbulence incident in May 2024, Singapore Airlines suspended meal service during turbulence to prioritize safety. However, this policy created challenges for cabin crew, who struggled to serve meals with limited time, especially on short flights with frequent turbulence. Industry experts questioned the policy’s effectiveness, noting turbulence is unpredictable and difficult to anticipate. Passengers, often unaware of safety priorities, expressed frustration over disrupted service. Due to negative feedback and operational difficulties, SIA reversed the policy in August 2024, restoring the decision to suspend or continue in-flight service to pilots’ discretion. <p align="justify">在 2024 年 5 月发生一起致命的气流颠簸事件后，新加坡航空本着安全至上的原则，暂停了在颠簸期间的客舱餐饮服务。然而，这一政策给客舱乘务员带来了挑战——由于服务时间被严重压缩，他们很难完成餐食配送，在频繁遭遇颠簸的短途航班上尤为明显。行业专家也对该政策的实际效果提出了质疑，指出气流颠簸具有不可预测性，很难提前预判。此外，通常不了解安全优先原则的旅客也对服务中断表达了不满。鉴于负面反馈和实际操作中的困难，新航于 2024 年 8 月撤销了该政策，重新将是否暂停或继续机上服务的决定权交由机长自主裁量。