Singapore
Budget Carrier Tiger Airways Lands in
Melbourne
Monday September 17, 8:07 AM
MELBOURNE, Sept 17 Asia Pulse - Cut-price carrier Tiger Airways
landed its first plane in Melbourne Sunday, signalling a new
airfare price war.
The Singapore-based airline group, which is set to begin domestic
flights in Australia in early December, landed a jet at Melbourne
Airport at 1.40pm (AEST) today as part of a Civil Aviation Safety
Authority (CASA) approval process.
Tiger's entry will boost the Victorian and Australian tourism
industry and create 1,000 jobs, Victoria's Industry and Trade
Minister Theo Theophanous said today.
"It is clear that low-cost carriers are the way of the future and
Victoria has a terrific opportunity ahead of other states to work
with a proven low-cost carrier in Tiger," Mr Theophanous
said.
"Domestic and international transport links are critical if
Victoria is to fully capitalise on its strong economy, outstanding
program of major events, and world-class scenic, sporting and
cultural attractions.
"Around the world it is the competitive low-cost carriers such as
Tiger Airways that are reducing the cost of travel and stimulating
passenger traffic."
In May, Tiger said it expected to carry up to two million
passengers in the first year of its operations, adding it hoped to
"break the duopoly" of discount rivals Jetstar and Virgin
Blue.
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