Tiger Airways budget flight to Kuching, Malaysia; to expand fleet in Singapore

Tiger Airways, a low-cost airline based in Singapore, has announced its plans to expand its fleet in Singapore with the addition of two Airbus A319s aircraft in 2009.

Tiger Airways, with its primary hub at Singapore’s Changi Airport, is currently the largest low-cost airline operating out of Singapore in terms of passengers carried. The airline was the first to operate from the Budget Terminal in Changi Airport in order to achieve operating-cost savings, and its cost structure is modelled after Ryanair, the low-cost airline based in Dublin, Ireland. Tiger Airways started flights to India in October 2007.

Rosalynn Tay, managing director of Tiger Airways, said in a pres release: “Given the rate of liberalisation occurring in the ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) region, Tiger Airways is quickly taking 2 more brand-new aircraft into its Singapore-based fleet. The beauty of having smaller Airbus A320-family aircraft is that we have a plane that is 98% the same as our A320s, but with less seats and a lower operating cost. This is the perfect aircraft for route development and ensures that the airline is in the right position to exploit new opportunities as they are presented.”

“The Airbus A319,” Rosalynn Tay added, “has been successfully operated with low-fare airlines across the world such as Easyjet and Spirit in the United States. The A319 is a proven low-fare aircraft type. With these additional aircraft, we have the opportunity to expand aggressively our paw-print to more destinations with our famous low, low fares.”

At present, Tiger Airways is recruiting pilots, cabin crew and support staff to be based in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Tiger Airways has launched low-fare service to Kuching in eastern Malaysia.

The inaugural flight was greeted by Datuk Michael Manyin anak Jawong, Sarawak’s Minister of Urban Development and Tourism.

The Tiger Airways passengers onboard the inaugural flight were given a friendly welcome by locals adorned in traditional outfits and were presented with bead garlands upon arrival.

To celebrate the launch of the service to Kuching, Tiger Airways is offering a deal of free seats for a limited time – travellers only have to pay the airport charges and taxes.

“Tiger Airways has made history by being the first low-fare airline from Singapore to fly to East Malaysia, right in Kuching,” Rosalynn Tay, managing director of Tiger Airways Singapore, said in the press release.  “Since 2004, we have been in active dialogue with ASEAN governments to allow Tiger Airways to link Singapore with ASEAN nations with our low, low fares.”

Tiger Airways’ new low-fare flights to Kuching will depart Singapore at 14:35 and arrive at Kuching at 15:55. Flights from Kuching will depart at 16:25, arriving in Singapore at 17:45.