Letter of the week
Air New Zealand is coming under criticism for using the mandatory safety demonstrations as a marketing tool. What is being missed, however, is the raison d’etre behind the videos, which is trying to solve the problem that these days fewer and fewer people watch or listen to the safety demonstrations.
And who can blame them? Being shown how to put on your seat belt? Give us a break. On regional flights, it’s no wonder the cabin crew get frustrated, sometimes berating passengers for talking during the spiel whereas their colleagues on jet flights can simply point out exits and hope someone, somewhere is watching a screen.
Surely it’s time to review the whole concept behind the safety requirements and make the information more compelling and more relevant. On a Garuda flight once, the crew simply said we’re sure you are all familiar with this safety stuff and retreated to the galley, that being their disdain.
I’m unsure if the CAA can change anything without international agreement but something has to give.
Tony Marks