Sir, – At last – a letter on noise pollution! I completely agree with Ken Buggy (July 30th).
Aer Lingus could be added to the list of culprits he identifies. The national carrier subjects passengers to loud international pop music before departure and after landing.
On a recent early-morning flight, we endured over 20 minutes of such noise pollution before our departure at 5.55am. When I asked a member of the cabin staff why this was so, she replied that it was “company policy”. Was this policy recommended by some passenger focus group consisting only of teenagers?
If passengers need to have pop music blaring at them even in the wee hours, surely they could use their earphones for this purpose.
The fact that Aer Lingus is already aware of this facility is clear from its request to passengers to remove their earphones during security announcements.
A message, therefore, to Aer Lingus from someone who no longer enjoys that disco atmosphere at 5.30 am – listen up, press the off button and allow the oldies (and not so oldies) among us to travel in peace and quiet. – Yours, etc,
G NEVILLE,
Sunday’s Well,
Cork.