PHUKET: Jet Asia Airways has just released a media statement that seeks to ''clarify and correct some recent press coverage.''
What the airline really needs to do is address a response to the Chinese embassy in Thailand. It was someone at the embassy who wrote a letter to several government ministries in Thailand about a recent incident involving a Jet Asia Airways flight on Phuket.
Perhaps Jet Asia Airways has yet to see a copy of the letter. We have attached the letter with this article.
The embassy's letter was discussed behind closed doors in a meeting between Chinese officials and Phuket authorities yesterday.
We have no reason to believe that the information we gleaned after the private meeting was distorted or incorrect.
We look forward to receiving and publishing the letter Jet Asia Airways should be writing to the Chinese embassy.
Here's what Jet Asia Airways had to say today:
''Jet Asia Airways would like to clarify and correct some recent press coverage of a delay experienced on one of our Phuket-Shenyang charter flights during the month of September, 2014.
''Flight JF 816 was scheduled to depart Phuket for Shenyang on 25 September.
''This flight was delayed due to the late arrival of our aircraft for operational reasons.
''In order to minimise the delay, Jet Asia then flew in a substitute aircraft to operate the service, however on arrival, that aircraft experienced a mechanical issue, resulting in a total delay of approximately 34 hours to the departure from Phuket.
''All passengers were accommodated at Jet Asia's expense in hotel resorts in Phuket throughout the period of the delay, provided full meals at the hotels and airport, and additionally paid cash compensation of THB 3,000 (RMB 566) per person in line with Jet Asia's conditions of carriage.
''At all times, our tour operator partners, and the passengers, were kept informed of latest flight status.
''Jet Asia Airways management sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused by these unforeseen flight delays. Providing reliable services, together with ensuring the comfort and safety of our passengers is always our top priority.''
Jet Asia Airways
Jet Asia Airways is a full service carrier based in Bangkok, Thailand, established in 2009, and provides scheduled & charter service from Thailand to North Asia, South East Asia and the Middle East with a fleet of six Boeing 767 aircraft. Jet Asia has reliably operated charter services between China and Thailand since 2012 (including over 200 flights to Shenyang). During this time, we have transported approximately 500,000 passengers successfully between the countries and has earned a reputation of being a reliable service provider in China.
The email with the media release attached reads:
Dear Phuketwan Editors,
You carried an article this week concerning a delay experienced with one of Jet Asia Airways flights operating from Phuket to Shenyang. The story contained some incorrect information which we would kindly request you to correct.
Please see attached a media release which contains a review of the incident and an accurate report of the incident.
Please do not hesitate to contact our CEO Jacob Saba, CCO Mr. John Chapman, or myself if you have any questions.
We thank you in advance.
Thank you very much
Brgs,
Chonnipa Bunnag (Parn) lMarketing Supervisorl
What the airline really needs to do is address a response to the Chinese embassy in Thailand. It was someone at the embassy who wrote a letter to several government ministries in Thailand about a recent incident involving a Jet Asia Airways flight on Phuket.
Perhaps Jet Asia Airways has yet to see a copy of the letter. We have attached the letter with this article.
The embassy's letter was discussed behind closed doors in a meeting between Chinese officials and Phuket authorities yesterday.
We have no reason to believe that the information we gleaned after the private meeting was distorted or incorrect.
We look forward to receiving and publishing the letter Jet Asia Airways should be writing to the Chinese embassy.
Here's what Jet Asia Airways had to say today:
''Jet Asia Airways would like to clarify and correct some recent press coverage of a delay experienced on one of our Phuket-Shenyang charter flights during the month of September, 2014.
''Flight JF 816 was scheduled to depart Phuket for Shenyang on 25 September.
''This flight was delayed due to the late arrival of our aircraft for operational reasons.
''In order to minimise the delay, Jet Asia then flew in a substitute aircraft to operate the service, however on arrival, that aircraft experienced a mechanical issue, resulting in a total delay of approximately 34 hours to the departure from Phuket.
''All passengers were accommodated at Jet Asia's expense in hotel resorts in Phuket throughout the period of the delay, provided full meals at the hotels and airport, and additionally paid cash compensation of THB 3,000 (RMB 566) per person in line with Jet Asia's conditions of carriage.
''At all times, our tour operator partners, and the passengers, were kept informed of latest flight status.
''Jet Asia Airways management sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused by these unforeseen flight delays. Providing reliable services, together with ensuring the comfort and safety of our passengers is always our top priority.''
Jet Asia Airways
Jet Asia Airways is a full service carrier based in Bangkok, Thailand, established in 2009, and provides scheduled & charter service from Thailand to North Asia, South East Asia and the Middle East with a fleet of six Boeing 767 aircraft. Jet Asia has reliably operated charter services between China and Thailand since 2012 (including over 200 flights to Shenyang). During this time, we have transported approximately 500,000 passengers successfully between the countries and has earned a reputation of being a reliable service provider in China.
The email with the media release attached reads:
Dear Phuketwan Editors,
You carried an article this week concerning a delay experienced with one of Jet Asia Airways flights operating from Phuket to Shenyang. The story contained some incorrect information which we would kindly request you to correct.
Please see attached a media release which contains a review of the incident and an accurate report of the incident.
Please do not hesitate to contact our CEO Jacob Saba, CCO Mr. John Chapman, or myself if you have any questions.
We thank you in advance.
Thank you very much
Brgs,
Chonnipa Bunnag (Parn) lMarketing Supervisorl
The response of the airline is somewhat better than what many other charter airlines would have done. One need only look at recent events in North America where major airlines basically told pax they were on their own. The pax received a hotel room and meals. This is a discount charter type airline. One of the risks of using an airline with a small fleet to a non hub destination is that when there is a mechanical issue, there will be a flight delay. I don't see how the delay and its response contravened the contract of carriage, which does allow for these types of disruptions. The difference here though is that someone at the Chinese embassy cares. That's the real story. The Chinese government has made an attempt to advocate on behalf of its nationals which is something one does not see with western governments. When is the last time someone at the UK/Australia/Canada/USA/Swedish embassy took action on behalf of aggrieved charter airline passengers?
Posted by Ryan on October 15, 2014 10:59
Editor Comment:
This is a scheduled airline, not a charter. Indeed, the response of the airline appears to have been appropriate but their argument is really with the Chinese authorities who seem to still be unhappy. The passengers also appear to have been unappreciative. It may be that the airline was not equipped to deal with a large number of complaints on the ground at the time. We look forward to them sorting out the remaining issues with the Chinese industry authorities and the Chinese embassy, then letting us know. A media release immediately to clarify what had happened might have been the best response. The late media release is the mark of a caring airline, but well overdue.