GEORGE TOWN, July 3 – Low-cost airline Tiger Airways Singapore is keen to expand its network in Malaysia following growing demand and amid the tourism potential in the country.
Its managing director Ho Yuen Sang said the airline is looking to expand to Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Kinabalu.
“Destinations in Malaysia are very attractive. We are studying the option of expanding with six more aircraft being received by March next year,” he told reporters after unveiling the new Tigerair identity, here today.
Ho said the airline is also planning to expand the Penang-Singapore route frequency from 14 times to 21 weekly soon as the island was the favourite destination for tourists, especially in respect of the local food.
He said the airline would promote Penang as the connection hub via Singapore as there was limited international and frequency of flights from Penang to other destinations such as Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Ho said the airline is expecting a high 20 per cent growth in passengers for the fiscal year ending March 2014, similar to that recorded last year, driven by network expansion.
“There are lots of potential places to fly to. Our network is still not as extensive as we want it,” he added.
Tigerair was established in 2003 and is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, which is the parent company of a group of budget carriers, operating in the Asian region and Australia.
It comprises wholly-owned Tigerair Singapore and Tigerair Australia and partially-owned Tigerair Mandala and Tigerair Philippines.
As of June this year, the group’s fleet comprised 45 Airbus A320 family aircraft, averaging under three years of age. It operates an extensive network covering over 50 destinations across 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region. – Bernama
