Snowstorm leaves Singaporeans stranded at Narita airport

Straits Times, tuesday Jan 24 2006

OVER 200 people have been affected, nearly for two days. Some people had their flights delayed for a few hours but others, a longer period of time. I feel extremely sympathetic towards these people who were stranded. I personally would also be very upset and frustrated if my schedule and plans were affected as a result of the unexpected natural disaster. From my point of view, it isn't wrong to feel indignant towards the airport for causing disruption in your program but it unnecessary to react so strongly by shouting and slamming the information counters in response to your dissatifaction of the airport's services. It was unexpected that the snow storm would arrive and it was inevitable that public transportation be ceased as a result of the bad weather.

I feel that the services of the Narita airport should be reevaluated to improve the standards of the airport and satisfy the requirements of the passengers. I believe it would have been much better and less chaotic if the airline staff filled in the passengers with information of the situation. It would also have been much better if the Narita airport staff had improtu plans for the provision of sufficient food and blanklets for their passengers. If there is no immediate effect in improving these services, Tokyo, Narita Airport faces the risk of deterring people from visiting Japan.