Stillwaterising (talk | contribs) m yes, there's some information about quality of service, but nothing that states they are unreliable (HG) |
124.168.179.209 (talk) Tiger have "...consistently lower percentage on-time arrival and... a higher percentage of service cancellations...". In other words, UNRELIABLE! |
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'''Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd''', operating as '''Tiger Airways Australia''', is an ultra-[[low-cost carrier|low cost airline]] which commenced services in the [[Australia]]n domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a [[subsidiary]] of [[Tiger Airways Holdings]], a [[Singapore]] based company, which is owned in part by [[Singapore Airlines]]. The airline is based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], with its main base at [[Melbourne Airport]] and a secondary base at [[Adelaide Airport]] which opened on 1 March 2009. A smaller "virtual base" was opened in Sydney on 29 October 2009 <ref name=Sydvbase>{{cite press release|title=Tiger Airways creates "Virtual Base" in Sydney with more daily flights|url=http://www.tigerairways.com.au/news/20091030.pdf|publisher=[[Tiger Airways Australia]]|date=2009-10-30|accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref>. Tiger Airways has the second lowest cost base in the entire region after Malaysia's [[AirAsia]]. |
'''Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd''', operating as '''Tiger Airways Australia''', is an unreliable, ultra-[[low-cost carrier|low cost airline]] which commenced services in the [[Australia]]n domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a [[subsidiary]] of [[Tiger Airways Holdings]], a [[Singapore]] based company, which is owned in part by [[Singapore Airlines]]. The airline is based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], with its main base at [[Melbourne Airport]] and a secondary base at [[Adelaide Airport]] which opened on 1 March 2009. A smaller "virtual base" was opened in Sydney on 29 October 2009 <ref name=Sydvbase>{{cite press release|title=Tiger Airways creates "Virtual Base" in Sydney with more daily flights|url=http://www.tigerairways.com.au/news/20091030.pdf|publisher=[[Tiger Airways Australia]]|date=2009-10-30|accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref>. Tiger Airways has the second lowest cost base in the entire region after Malaysia's [[AirAsia]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 08:10, 18 March 2010
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| Founded | 16 March 2007 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 23 November 2007 | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | 8 (+22 orders) | ||||||
| Destinations | 12 | ||||||
| Parent company | Tiger Airways Holdings[1] | ||||||
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||||||
| Key people | Shelley Roberts (MD) Tony Davis (CEO, Tiger Aviation) Derek Hayden (Manager Flight Operations) Steve Burns (Commercial Director) Mike Coltman (Operations Director) | ||||||
| Website | www.tigerairways.com.au | ||||||
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is an unreliable, ultra-low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore based company, which is owned in part by Singapore Airlines. The airline is based in Melbourne, Victoria, with its main base at Melbourne Airport and a secondary base at Adelaide Airport which opened on 1 March 2009. A smaller "virtual base" was opened in Sydney on 29 October 2009 [2]. Tiger Airways has the second lowest cost base in the entire region after Malaysia's AirAsia.
History
Australian government policy and legislation currently permits airlines that are 100% foreign-owned to operate domestic airline services within the country.[3] The change in regulations originally applied only to New Zealand-owned airlines in 1996,[4] but were later relaxed, resulting in the establishment of Virgin Blue. Australian international airlines are still subject to ownership rules limiting foreign ownership to 49%.[5]
The Australian Foreign Investment Review Board gave approval for Tiger Airways to establish its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary in March, 2007 and did not place any special conditions on its approval.[6] Subsequently on 16 March 2007, Tiger Airways Australia Pty. Ltd. was incorporated in the Northern Territory,[7] although the company itself is based in Melbourne, with Melbourne Airport being the airline's major hub.[8] AUD$10 million and five aircraft were committed to start the subsidiary.[9][10] The airline's business model is based on that of sister airline Tiger Airways, which attempts to increase the total market size (number of passengers), control operating costs of the airline, and maximise the number of sectors served by its aircraft.[11] One way it planned to keep costs low was by avoiding expensive airports.[12]
Tiger undertook the final stage of Australian regulatory procedures on 20 November 2007, performing two proving flights from Melbourne, to the Sunshine Coast and Launceston respectively. Each carried officials from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority as well as Tiger crew. Tiger successfully completed these flights, and received their Air Operator's Certificate on Thursday 22 November, becoming one of only two Australian airlines to earn the certificate on their first attempt, following OzJet.
The aircraft used by Tiger Airways Australia have the same livery as their Singapore sister company. The airline projected initial traffic of 2 million passengers annually.[6]
Tiger Airways Australia's first scheduled flight was TT 7402, departing Melbourne for the Gold Coast, on 23 November 2007 at 7:30am. The first flight to Mackay took off at noon on the same day.[13]
On 31 May 2008, it was announced that passengers would now be charged a fee for check-in luggage. It is a A$10 (for 15KG) fee at booking but if paid at check-in, it increases to A$20.[14]
It was announced on 3 April 2009 that Tiger intended to launch into the Melbourne-Sydney market, the third busiest passenger route in the world, signalling an end to its operational policy of avoiding expensive airports.[15]
On 18 July the same year, it was announced that Tiger would be increasing its Melbourne-Sydney flights by up to nine flights a day in each direction, and doubling the capacity on the Adelaide-Sydney Route. This is all part of expansion plans arising from new aircraft arriving from 4 October 2009 [16]
On 5 November 2009 Tiger Airways announced the intention to launch into the Brisbane market with services to Melbourne, Adelaide and Rockhampton. Tiger celebrated these routes for $2 during their Second Birthday sale, along with all Tasmanian routes, and the popular Melbourne to Sydney route.
Tiger Australia announced in February 2010 that the airline is now profitable.[17]
Ownership
Tiger Airways Australia is wholly owned by holding company Tiger Airways Holdings Limited, which is publicly listed in Singapore Exchange. The main shareholders in Tiger Airways Holdings who holds more than 5% shares are:
- Singapore Airlines Limited (34.4%)
- Indigo Partners LLC (15.0%)
- RyanAsia Limited (11.2%)
- Dahlia Investments Pte Ltd (7.7%)
Competitors' reactions
The arrival of Tiger Airways Australia in the market resulted in varied responses from its primary competitors, mainly Qantas (and its subsidiary Jetstar Airways) and Virgin Blue. Jetstar, in particular, has been particularly vocal, with its chief executive Alan Joyce quoted as saying "Tiger and what they have done have come across as a joke, and will probably continue that way".[18] He further claimed that Tiger was losing over SGD$60 million over the past two years of operations out of Singapore.[19]
Air fares began to drop, as special offers and other promotions were launched, such as Jetstar's announcement that it will "double the difference of any competitor's fare that is cheaper than its own fares".[20] This was soon followed by a bonus system to entice its customers to stay with the airline.[21] Jetstar immediately matched Tiger's Melbourne to Darwin fare upon announcement.
Tiger Airways Australia had previously been quoted as planning to offer "single digit" one-way fares when it began service. The announcement of AUD$79.99 flights from Melbourne to Darwin was met with criticism from Jetstar.[22]
When Tiger released their first route, Melbourne — Darwin, at a price of AUD$79.99, Jetstar immediately undercut the price, offering sale fares at AUD$79 on the same route over the same period. Similarly, when Tiger released their second route, Melbourne — Gold Coast, at a price of AUD$49.95, Jetstar again undercut the price, offering AUD$39 fares on the route over the same period. In response to Tiger's announcement of Melbourne — Launceston flights, priced at AUD$39.95, Jetstar offered AUD$29 flights over the same period, save a holiday blackout.
Virgin Blue, however, has yet to respond to Tiger in any significant way. Virgin Blue considered the possibility of establishing a low-cost offshoot to fend off Tiger Airways,[23], but instead decided to focus the funds on their new trans-Pacific carrier and on increasing their business travel share by introducing a Premium Economy service.
Melbourne Airport announced plans to cut usage fees soon after Tiger's announcement of a hub there, in a bid to increase its share of low-cost traffic.[24] Tiger's mention of New Zealand as a potential market has also raised concerns in that country.[25]
Just days before the launch of Tiger Airways Australia, Jetstar offered 5,000 seats on 21 November 2007 for the price of AUD five cents, inclusive of taxes, on seven domestic routes, costing the airline AUD $25.00 per seat. Jetstar claims that the sale has nothing to do with the Tiger launch, while at the same time referring to them as "competitive". The airline's spokesman, Simon Westaway, was quoted as saying that they "are a good airline in their own right. We are not going head to head. We respect them for the competitor that they are going to be".[26]
On 23 November 2007, the airline publicly slammed Qantas for being unable to provide ground handling services to the airline at Alice Springs, forcing it to delay its launch to the city by three months to 1 March 2008. The airline had promised to pay any cost to Qantas, but services were still denied. Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti responded by saying "assisting competitors is not part of my job description".[27] Tiger Airways Australia CEO, Tony Davis reminded Qantas that Tiger's parent, Singapore Airlines, provides ground servicing at Singapore Changi Airport for both Qantas and Jetstar, and it wasn't unreasonable for Qantas to provide Tiger the ground staff at Alice Springs Airport.
Tiger commenced service to Adelaide from Melbourne on 10 January 2008. Fares of $9.95 one-way between Melbourne and Adelaide were offered a few days prior to the Adelaide launch.
Tiger Airways Australia celebrated its first anniversary on 19 November 2008, with a "Free Seats" Campaign, which resulted in 100,000 seats on sale, of which half sold out within the first few hours.[28]
The airline also celebrated its second birthday on 23 November 2009 with thousands of seats on sale for $2.
On-time Performance
The airline statistics published by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics in Australia indicate that Tiger Airways have consistently lower percentage on-time arrival and departure statistics and a higher percentage of service cancellations compared to its Australian competitors.[29]
Marketing
The Air Ways TV series created by the Seven Network follows the day-to-day operations of the airline. It has a similar premise to the successful UK factual television series Airline. The series, while not always portraying Tiger in a positive light, does much to promote the airline.
Tiger Airways has launched a new Campaign in December 2009 named "The Low Fare Revolution".
Destinations
Second Base
Tiger Airways had expressed interest in starting a second base in Australia, after the flights from Melbourne achieved a 91% Load Factor on average.[30] It didn't single out any single destination. On 5 August 2008, Tiger Airways confirmed that Adelaide Airport would be the airlines second base. The airline now has 2 A320 aircraft based in and out of Adelaide Airport. Aviation Experts have said that Tiger is only chasing Government incentives in Adelaide, after the Adelaide base has had dismal passenger numbers. It is also estimated that there is to be no more expansion in Adelaide unless the Government supports them.
Fleet
The Tiger Airways Australia fleet consists of the following aircraft in an all-economy configuration (at 7 March 2010):[31]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-232 | 8 | 22[32] | 180 | Seat pitch at 72.5 cm (28.5 inches)[33] |
Tiger's CEO noted that the intention is to let the Australian-based airline to "grow as big as demand allows it to grow" which, based on statements, has been projected to be up to 30 aircraft.[6]
Onboard services
In a survey in 2009, Tiger Airways was voted the worst overall airline in Australia, with a 55% satisfaction rate. However, it was also voted the best value airline.[34]
The airline provides the free Tiger Tales inflight magazine and a buy on board programme serving snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine for purchase.[35]
See also
References
- ^ "Tiger Airways restructures it business for regional expansion". Channel NewsAsia. 10 September 2007.
- ^ "Tiger Airways creates "Virtual Base" in Sydney with more daily flights" (PDF) (Press release). Tiger Airways Australia. 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Kain, John and Webb, Richard (2003-06-16). "Turbulent Times:Australian Airline Industry Issues 2003". Research Paper no. 10 2002-03. Economics, Commerce and Industrial Relations Group. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand relating to Air Services" (PDF). Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. 2002-10-21. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite web}}: External link in|authorlink= - ^ "Air Navigation Act 1920 - Sect 11A". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ a b c Creedy, Steve (2007-03-16). "Growing Tiger gets its stripes". The Australian. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ "Tiger Airways sets up Aussie subsidiary". Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ "Tiger Airways Australia Incorporation In The Territory" (Press release). Northern Territory Government. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "Tiger Airways to bring [[Ryanair]] model to Australia". Channel NewsAsia. 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4770512.html
- ^ "Facts Sheet". Tiger Airways. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Tiger vows to shun high-cost airports
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22808212-31037,00.html
- ^ Tiger Airways fee schedule
- ^ http://peanuts.aero/low_cost_airline_news/airline/21234/59/Tiger+Airways+to+fly+from+Sydney+in+Jul-09
- ^ [1]
- ^ Tiger Airways Holdings Limited Third Quarter 2010 Results retrieved 2010-03-01
- ^ Rochfort, Scott (2007-06-23). "Jetstar delivers Singapore sling". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|1=and|2=(help) - ^ Carwell, Andrew. "Singapore carrier losing millions: Jetstar". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ Murphy, Mathew (2007-05-29). "Hold that Tiger: Jetstar set to pounce". The Age. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Easdown, Geoff (2007-05-29). "Air wars: taking tiger by tail". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Rochfort, Scott (2007-02-09). "Tiger to tear up Aussie air market". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
- ^ "Ali Moore speaks to Virgin Blue boss". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007-02-20. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Newman, Geoffrey. "Melbourne to cut air fees as Tiger takes off". The Australian. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ John, Danny (2007-06-26). "PEP's Flight plan gets an upgrade". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-08-03.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Australia's Jetstar offers 5 cent domestic airfares
- ^ [2]
- ^ Tiger Airways launches free seat sale
- ^ http://www.bitre.gov.au/info.aspx?ResourceId=214&NodeId=104
- ^ Tiger Airways Australia CEO presents speech on expansion plans - Low Cost Airline News
- ^ Australian civil aircraft register search, using "Tiger Airways" as the search parameter. Search conducted 7 March 2010.
- ^ Flightglobal: Tiger to increase services 20 Jul 09
- ^ http://www.tigerairways.com/in/en/seat_selector.php
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,26002438-5014090,00.html
- ^ "Inflight Menu." Tiger Airways Australia. Retrieved on 18 November 2008.