Guide dogs may soon be able to board Tigerair

Tigerair, inviting guide dogs onboard

The introduction of this new policy, subject to approval from relevant authorities, will be a culmination of Tigerair’s effort to improve the flight experience of persons with special requirements.

Singapore based budget carrier Tigerair will soon allow guide dogs to board the aircraft with their owners. 

In fact, passengers on a flight to Phuket last week were surprised to see a dog lying beside a passenger at seat 1E.

The passenger was Cassandra Chiu, a visually impaired person; and the dog Esme, her guide. 

Chiu’s flight together Esme marks a milestone for Tigerair as it works on rolling out a new policy allowing visually impaired persons to travel onboard with their guide dogs. 

The introduction of this new policy, subject to approval from relevant authorities, will be a culmination of Tigerair’s effort to improve the flight experience of persons with special requirements.

The airline is working with the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind on the trial flight. It has also invited the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped and the Singapore Association of the Deaf to train its cabin crew on ways to better assist passengers with visual and hearing impairments.

Ho Yuen Sang, COO of Tigerair, said, “We hope to enhance the mobility of visually impaired passengers and empower them to access more destinations served by Tigerair."