Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways will make its Western Australian foray into the domestic travel market with flights to Melbourne, starting from December 1.
Starting with one way fares from $60, the company hopes to bolster its reach into the international market, after commencing Perth-Singapore flights in March.
The decision comes as the airline launches its domestic routes to cities in Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory.
The initial flights, operating daily, will leave Perth 12:25 am, to touch down at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport at 5:50 am. Flights from Melbourne will leave at 9:50 pm to arrive at 11:55 pm.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
Australia's only true low fare airline, Tiger Airways Australia, today commenced sales on even more domestic routes, linking its Melbourne (Tullamarine) hub and Perth airport in Western Australia.
One-way fares between Melbourne and Perth start from just $59.95 inclusive of taxes and charges, with daily flights starting on 1 December 2007, saving travelers a massive $258 return on the lowest equivalent fare currently available on other airlines. All Flights are subject to regulatory approval.
Tiger Airways CEO Tony Davis said, "We are delighted to be linking our home base at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport with our international gateway of Perth. Tiger Airways, and our consistently low fares, are already well known to West Australians through our daily services between Perth and Singapore and we are sure that we will have a strong response to our new service to Melbourne".
"Our customers have told us they want lower fares to popular destinations such as Western Australia, and now Tiger Airways can offer competitive low fares on a sustained basis on our expanding domestic network across the whole of Australia" Davis said.
"This new route also enables travelers from Melbourne to link into Tiger Airways expanding international network through daily services between Perth and Singapore and beyond to other points in Asia.
