Relax - Task force to help lift Taoyuan Airport into top 10

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A panel designated with the task of improving the operation efficiency and service quality at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will strive to lift the largest airport in Taiwan into the rank of world's top 10 airports in a period of three years.

Chang Yu-hern, head of the task force set up by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), said that achieving the goal is feasible if the people and agencies involved possess determination and are willing to take the "strong medicines to cure the shortcomings."

He made the remarks after panelists exchanged their views at their first meeting yesterday.

Chang welcomed the public to provide suggestions that may help bring forth improvement concerning the system, human resources, flight safety, engineering, operations, and regulations.

He said the "airport improvement task force" is resolute in accomplishing its mission. The panel is also confident that the international rating for Taoyuan Airport can be elevated to join the list of the world's 10 best airports from the current ranking of 27th place.

Chang suggested that a survey of passengers concerning airport service be carried out as early as possible before drawing up a priority list for improvement.

Ranking high for immediate actions will include the most pressing problems and issues that passengers have complained the most about, he said. Vice Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Kuang-shih conceded that there has been lack of new investment into the airport during the past decade while some of the faulty issues have remained unattended for too long.

He said the first step should be reviving the sense of honor among the airport staff. He also encouraged all staffers to offer ideas and proposals for improvement in service and efficiency.

Legislator Lo Shu-lei of the ruling Kuomintang also took part in the meeting at the invitation of Yeh.

She called for the enforcement of a clearly defined merit system to improve airport management by giving clear rewards to people with outstanding performance and meting out penalty on those held accountable.

The legislator also suggested the creation of an independent company for the continuing monitoring of airport operations.

The MOTC's task force on improving airport management was established mainly after Lo recently uncovered irregularities related to the staff at the Central Control Center (CCC), including on-the-job drinking, a sexual harassment scandal, and possible excess drawing of salaries involving some personnel who had allegedly tampered their work schedules. Earlier, there were other embarrassing incidents at the country's main gateway, including poor sanitation, high prices of food and beverage served at the restaurants in the airport, baggage trolley malfunctions, and the collapse of a jet bridge. Lo said she would rather not get involved with the new task of helping to streamline the airport operations if the MOTC plans to simply put up a show without sincere efforts to redress the problems.

In response, Chang, head of the panel, stressed that the team is seriously determined to take concrete steps to upgrade operations at the international airport.

Chang is presently chairman of the Aviation Safety Council under the Executive Yuan (Cabinet). He formerly served as director-general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CCA) 10 years ago and is now concurrently the dean of the College of Management at the National Cheng Kung University.

Meanwhile, incumbent CAA deputy chief Wang Teh-ho and newly appointed Taoyuan Airport Director Wei Sheng-ji have jointly worked out an action plan to tackle certain urgent problems, including stepped-up inspection and maintenance work for the two runways, increasing staff to provide better services to passengers, carrying out a thorough examination of facilities like jet bridge at the airport.

Task force to help lift Taoyuan Airport into top 10

The China Post/Asia News Network | Wed, Jul 14 2010

The panel is confident that Taoyuan Airport can be elevated from its 27th place.

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He made the remarks after panelists exchanged their views at their first meeting yesterday.

Chang welcomed the public to provide suggestions that may help bring forth improvement concerning the system, human resources, flight safety, engineering, operations, and regulations.

Chang suggested that a survey of passengers concerning airport service be carried out as early as possible before drawing up a priority list for improvement.

He said the first step should be reviving the sense of honor among the airport staff. He also encouraged all staffers to offer ideas and proposals for improvement in service and efficiency.

Legislator Lo Shu-lei of the ruling Kuomintang also took part in the meeting at the invitation of Yeh.

The legislator also suggested the creation of an independent company for the continuing monitoring of airport operations.

In response, Chang, head of the panel, stressed that the team is seriously determined to take concrete steps to upgrade operations at the international airport.

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