Singapore-based discount airline, Tiger Airways, has added the busy Perth-Singapore route to its scheduled flights, with plans to fly four times weekly from March from as low as $292 return, including taxes.
About 57,000 visitors from Singapore come to Perth every year, making it Western Australia’s second largest source of tourists.
Tourism from Singapore has been declining since the end of 2005 following the cancellation of the Valuair service between the two cities, which effectively removed 1,000 seats a week from the market and forced Tourism WA to pursue an alternative low-cost carrier for the route.
The expansion of the low-cost carrier network in South-East Asia has also had a substantial effect on visitor numbers from the region. Tourism WA’s latest international tourism figures indicate that visitors numbers from Malaysia are down 25 per cent from 2005, Singapore down 14 per cent, Hong Kong down 11 per cent and Thailand down 10 per cent.
Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said the competitively priced Tiger Airways service would increase tourism activity in the state by attracting a new wave of visitors.
“This is a significant opportunity and a significant boost to tourism in WA and our relationship with Singapore,” Ms McHale said.
She said Tourism WA would increase its marketing activity in Singapore to coincide with the launch.
Tiger Airways chief executive Tony Davis said the low fares offered by the airline would position Perth as an alternative short-break destination compared with other Asian destinations.
He said the airline would not poach business from other carriers operating in that market, but would strengthen WA tourism as a whole.
“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,” Mr Davis said.
The Perth-to-Singapore service will run four times a week, increasing to a daily service by November, using a fleet of nine new Airbus A320 aircraft with 180-seat capacity
The service is expected to add 70,000 seats a year between the two cities.
Tiger Airways’ major shareholder is Singapore Airlines, with European low-cost carrier Ryanair founder, Tony Ryan, a major backer.
