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Foreign Correspondent: May 3

Airing at an earlier time, this episode looks at safety for international budget airlines.

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This week Foreign Correspondent airs at the earlier time of 8.40pm, right after ABC’s Budget 2016 Special.

The report by Samantha Hawley and Suzanne Smith looks at safety for international budget airlines.

Thousands of Australians book their holidays on cheap foreign airlines – but how safe are they? This Foreign Correspondent special report by Samantha Hawley and Suzanne Smith reveals troubling evidence about the safety of some budget carriers.

A dogfight has broken out in the skies to Australia’s north. As Australians demand cheaper travel and Asia’s swelling middle classes take to the air, airlines are waging a cut-throat war for market share.

But in the quest for bums on seats, is safety being sacrificed?

“Maybe it’s not a good idea to fly some of those airlines. Aviation’s not really forgiving.” – Asia-based airline captain

Foreign Correspondent reveals disturbing issues with poor safety standards and pilot training in some Asian budget carriers – including one that shuttles thousands of vacationing Australians to Bali every year.

“Some airlines that fly to Australia don’t meet international standards and they should be banned.” – independent aviation expert

Experts point the finger at one foreign regulator in particular, accusing it of failing to enforce standards and awarding pilot licences to people who should never fly.

“Almost 300 people are reliant on you. If you cannot crew the plane those 300 will be your victims.” – instructor to student pilots

8.40pm Tuesday May 3 on ABC.

One Response

  1. Interesting, and a bit scary. Indonesian AirAsia (not its Malaysian parent though) got highlighted and slammed, along with Lion Air and other Indo airlines for their lax standards.

    The only time I was going to fly Indo AirAsia, my flights got cancelled because of volcanic ash clouds. Probably just as well, as they would probably have tried to fly straight through it.

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