SINGAPORE AIRLINES AND COST OF TICKET (Name of passenger's contact person and telephone number)

The following question stood in the name of Mr Chiam See Tong -

Mr Chiam See Tong: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information Technology (a) whether he will suggest to Singapore Airlines that every passenger be required to give the name of the contact person and his telephone number at the check-in counter before a flight departure; and (b) why does an SIA ticket cost more than that of any other airline for a Singaporean flying to the same destination from Singapore.

Mr Leong Horn Kee (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Question No. 2, Sir.

The Minister for Communications and Information Technology (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, SIA relies on the contact numbers provided by passengers at the point of booking their tickets if they have to contact the passenger or the next-of-kin. Currently, it is not the standard industry practice for airlines to take down the particulars of passengers' next-of-kin. Singapore Airlines would have to assess how to reconcile the need for essential passenger information without compromising its speed and efficiency. It would also have to take into account the sensitivity of some passengers who might not wish to provide personal information to the airline. Nonetheless, I can convey Mr Chiam's suggestion to SIA.

As for the question on SIA's ticket pricing, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore does not intervene in the pricing policies of airlines operating in Singapore. Singapore is a major international aviation hub with over 60 airlines operating here. Airlines price their tickets based on commercial considerations and consumers are free to choose the airlines which best suit their requirements in terms of services, price, routing and flight frequencies, etc. The prices of airline tickets are therefore determined by market forces.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Does the Minister not think that something is amiss when Singaporeans are made to pay higher prices than foreigners when they buy SIA tickets in Singapore?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, foreigners buying tickets in Singapore pay the same price as any Singaporean. The market forces are at play. There are many airlines operating out of Singapore, and there are many airlines flying the same routes as SIA. So consumers should choose carefully.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, but in the case of SIA, Singaporeans prefer to fly by SIA and they are made to pay a higher price. In a way, they are forced to take other airlines. Do you not think there is something wrong there?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, I do not think anybody forces Singaporeans to fly on either SIA or any other airline. In fact, many Singaporeans fly on non-SQ flights. I think the market is a very open one. As with every product and every service, if a product or service is of a higher quality, normally a premium will be applied, and we leave it to the market to determine whether a premium is applicable. In the case of airline tickets, the same mechanism applies.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, that is the point. When Singaporeans fly in other airlines, and they start to talk with their fellow passengers, and they found out that we are from Singapore, they would wonder, "How come you never fly your own SIA airline?" What are you going to tell the other person? Tell him that we have to pay more? Does it not sound rather embarrassing for Singaporeans?

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: I do not think there is anything embarrassing about buying non-Singapore products.