Asian discount carrier Tiger Airways has added the busy Perth-Singapore route to its scheduled flights, with plans to fly four times weekly from March with fares as low as $292 return.
Asian discount carrier Tiger Airways has added the busy Perth-Singapore route to its scheduled flights, with plans to fly four times weekly from March with fares as low as $292 return.
The Singapore-based airline will offer some much needed capacity to the route which has become a very profitable sector for Qantas and Singapore Airlines duopoly as Perth booms.
Perth and Singapore have a close relationship, with as many as 30,000 Singaporeans thought to live or spend the best part of their year in what is the nearest major Australian city to the island nation of around 4 million. Tiger already flies to Darwin.
An estimated 57,000 visitors from Singapore comes to Perth every year, making it the state's second largest source of tourists. About 838,000 passengers fly on the route annually.
The two cities also have major oil and gas sectors.
"This is a significant opportunity and a significant boost to tourism in WA and our relationship with Singapore," WA tourism minister Sheila McHale said.
Tiger Airways chief executive Tony Davis said the low fares offered by the airline would position Perth as an alternative short break destination compared to other Asian destinations and strengthen WA tourism, not poach business from other carriers operating in that market.
"Our experience in other markets suggests that low cost airlines grow markets, they don't cannibalise existing markets. It will help establish Perth as a strong destination, and enhance the awareness of Singaporeans to visit Perth."
The Perth to Singapore service will offer more than 70,000 seats per year bentween the two cities. Fares start from under $300 return, including taxes and charges, with passengers offered the choice of paying a premium for more spacious emergency exit seating.
The fleet will consist of nine new Airbus A320 aircraft with 180-seat capacity. Food and drink will be available for purchase, and in-flight entertainment machines will be available for rent during the flight.
Tiger Airways' major shareholder is Singapore Airlines, with European low cost carrier Airline Ryanair founder Tony Ryan a major backer.
Late last year, Singapore Airlines carried its 500,000th passenger to Perth.
Below is the announcements from the state government and Perth Airport:
Visitor numbers from Singapore to Western Australia are set to soar, with low-cost airline Tiger Airways to start flights between Singapore and Perth.
Tourism Minister Sheila McHale today announced the new service with Tiger Airways president and CEO Tony Davis, and Perth Airport executive chairman David Crawford.
Ms McHale said the Tiger Airways services would start in March - initially with four flights a week but increasing to daily services permanently in November this year. In addition, services would run daily in peak holiday periods in the lead-up to November.
"Singapore is our second biggest source of visitors, so the introduction of Tiger Airways flights to WA is a significant boost to our tourism industry," she said.
"We currently get about 57,000 visitors from Singapore every year and that should increase significantly as holiday makers take advantage of Tiger Airways' low prices.
"Historically, low cost carriers have been successful in boosting tourism activity by offering competitive fares and attracting visitors who have not previously travelled much."
The Minister said she met with senior representatives of Tiger Airways - which was
49 per cent owned by Singapore Airlines - when she was in Singapore last month.
"Low-cost airlines such as Tiger Airways have changed the face of holiday travel in Asia by making airline travel more affordable," she said.
"The less money international visitors have to spend on airfares, the more money they have to spend in WA.
"WA needs a service like this in order to grow visitor numbers from south-east Asia - especially as competition from other destinations already benefiting from the low air fares offered by these airlines in the region is fierce.
"WA should also benefit from an increase in visitor numbers from markets other than Singapore as Tiger Airways expands its flights into our emerging markets like China.
"Tourism WA will be increasing its marketing activity in Singapore in coming months to encourage potential visitors to book a holiday in WA."
Tiger Airways chief executive Tony Davis said the airline was delighted to be able to offer more than 70,000 seats a year between Singapore and Perth.
"Perth is Tiger Airways' second destination to Australia and we are proud to be the only Asian low cost carrier to link Perth with Asia," Mr Davis said.
"With return fares starting from $292.24 (including taxes and charges), travelling between Singapore and Perth has never been as affordable.
"Seats are now on sale, so passengers should book early at http://www.tigerairways.com to enjoy the fantastic low fares."
Tiger Airways will use 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.
Perth Airport executive chairman David Crawford said the arrival of Tiger Airways was a win for international business and holidaymakers alike and a gain for the WA tourism industry.
"Attracting new airlines is part of the airport's strategy to meet the strong demand from people wanting to travel through Perth," Mr Crawford said.
Below is the announcement from Perth Airport:
One of the leading low-cost airlines operating in the Asia-Pacific region, Tiger Airways, will make
Perth its next destination with flights commencing 23 March 2007.
Singapore-based Tiger Airways will initially offer four services to Perth per week with plans to
increase to daily services during peak holiday periods. Permanent daily services are earmarked to
start from 1 November 2007.
Perth Airport Executive Chairman Mr David Crawford was pleased to welcome Tiger Airways as the
airport's newest airline partner, describing their arrival as a win for international business and holiday
makers as well as a gain for the domestic tourism market.
"The introduction of services by Tiger Airways will benefit travellers, especially those who are more
budget conscious, providing them with more options through the increased capacity on the Perth-
Singapore route," Mr Crawford said.
"From Singapore Tiger Airways flies to 16 cities in seven countries, opening up more travel options
for Australian business and leisure travellers looking to visit such hot spots as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh
City in Vietnam or Macau or other fabulous, exotic destinations in China, Indonesia, Thailand and the
Philippines.
"In turn, travellers from these international locations will benefit from having access to lower airfares
and greater choice of flights into Perth offering a boost to the Western Australian tourism and
hospitality industries.
"Along with improving infrastructure via our recently announced $275 million capital works program,
attracting new airlines is part of our strategy to meet the strong demand from people wanting to travel
through Perth Airport," said Mr Crawford.
Tiger Airways will operate an Airbus A320 on the route with capacity for 180 passengers. The flight
will depart Singapore in the late afternoon arriving into Perth the same evening, completing the trip in
approximately five hours.
In 2006, Tiger Airways was voted the Low Cost Airline of the Year by the Centre of Asia-Pacific
Aviation (CAPA) from amongst the low cost airlines in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.