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Virgin Australia buys 60% stake in Tiger Airways

By Budget Airline News

Virgin Australia airline has purchased a 60% stake in low-cost carrier Tiger Airways.  The deal is said to be worth $35 million AUD.

The deal will allow Tiger Airways to expand its fleet and presence in Australia, where it was temporarily grounded in 2011 over safety concerns.

Commenting on the deal, Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said: “By partnering with Tiger Airways, we can use our expertise to leverage Tiger Australia’s competitive cost base and build a sustainable budget carrier.  While Virgin is taking a significant stake, Tiger will continue to operate under the Tiger Airways brand.”

 

 

Tiger Airways returns to Mackay in December 2012

By Budget Airline News

Tiger Airways has announced it will resume service to Mackay, Australia starting December 18, 2012.

The low-cost airline will fly up to four round-trip flights between Melbourne and Mackay each week. One-way fares start from $109.95 AUD.

Tiger Airways previously flew from its base at Melbourne Tullamarine to Mackay, but suspended the route in August 2011. It is the only airline offering direct flights on this route.

 

Jetstar to fly to Australia – Honolulu, Hawaii

By Budget Airline News

Jetstar Australia has announced it will offer direct flights from Melbourne, Australia to Honolulu, Hawaii starting on December 15, 2012.  This is the low-cost airline’s only destination in North America.

The initial schedule will be two flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Outbound flights will depart Melbourne (Tullamarine) at 4:30pm, arriving in Honolulu at 6:00am local time. The inbound flight will depart Honolulu at 7:30am, arriving in Melbourne at 4:10pm local time.

To celebrate this new route, Jetstar is offering one-way fares for as little as $349 AUD one-way.

 

 

Scoot launches Singapore – Sydney flights

By Budget Airline News

June 4, 2012 –  Scoot, Asia’s newest budget airline, took to the air today with its maiden flight from Singapore to Sydney. Its second round, Singapore to the Gold Coast, will launch on June 12, 2012.

Scoot is wholly owned by Singapore Airlines and based out of Singapore’s Changi Airport. Unlike most budget airlines, it will focus on medium and long-haul routes. Upcoming destinations include Tianjin, China, and Bangkok, Thailand.

Scoot’s fares are 40% less expensive than full-service airlines, and it has already sold more than 100,000 tickets. The airline also announced it will be offering iPad rentals for in-flight entertainment.

Jetstar reduces flights to Australia’s Northern Territory

By Budget Airline News

Due to low demand, Jetstar Australia has announced it will be reducing services to the Northern Territory.

From August 16, 2012, Jetstar will operate 7 flights per week between Sydney and Darwin (previously 11 flights per week). It will also reduce flights from Darwin to Bali, Indonesia, to 8 flights per week (previously 11 flights per week).

Qantas, Jetstar’s parent company, is also reducing flights between Perth and Uluru and Cairns and Uluru.

Pacific Air to become Fiji Airways, compete with budget airlines

By Budget Airline News

Pacific Air has announced it will be rebranded as Fiji Airways. The transition to new livery and brand will begin later in 2012 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.  The airline also hopes the changes will allow them to better compete with low-cost airlines like JetStar.

The name change is the latest in a series of initiatives at Pacific Air that have included improving schedule and networks, investing in new aircraft, and becoming more cost effective. The airline hopes these changes will allow them to compete with budget airlines which fly many of the same routes between Australia and Pacific islands like Fiji .

Pacific Air CEO David Pflieger said: “We’re already competing against Jetstar and Virgin, and holding our own. We try to match on price and frequency, and then product”

Tiger Airways will resume flights to Hobart, Australia

By Budget Airline News

Tiger Airways Australia has announced it will resume flights from Melbourne to Hobart. This route will resume in early November 2012 with an initial schedule of two flights per day.

Tiger Airways Australia ended flights to Tasmania after it was temporarily grounded in 2011 over safety concerns. As the Civil Aviation Safety Authority gradually eases the restrictions put on Tiger Airways, the budget airline has been re-adding routes to make use of its full fleet.

Fares from Melbourne – Hobart are available for online bookings and start from $45.95 AUD + taxes.

Scoot ticket sales now available

By Budget Airline News

Scoot, the new low-cost wing of Singapore Airlines, is ready for business with ticket sales now available through their official website. Sales to the general public launched on March 22, 2012, with one-way fares starting at $88 SGD inc. taxes and surcharges.

Starting from June 26, 2012, Scoot will operate daily flights to Sydney and five weekly flights to the Gold Coast, Australia. Scoot is a low-cost airline and additional charges apply for checked luggage, onboard meals, and advance seat selection.

Bookings can be made by visiting their official website at www.flyscoot.com or by calling (65) 3158 3388 in Singapore or (61) 2 8520 1888 in Australia.

AirAsia X axes New Zealand route

By Budget Airline News

AirAsia X, the long-haul wing of AirAsia, has announced it is canceling the route between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Christchurch, New Zealand. The final flight will be on May 30, 2012.

“The Christchurch route has been impacted by the spiralling cost of jet fuel,” AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said in a statement. “Since the launch of the route, jet fuel prices have increased in excess of 30 per cent, and are currently still at very high levels.”

In recent months, AirAsia X has cancelled numerous routes including Kuala Lumpur to London, Kuala Lumpur to Paris, and Perth to Bali. AirAsia X has said it will focus on core markets in China, Japan, and Australia.

Tiger Airways to create second base at Sydney Airport

By Budget Airline News

Tiger Airways has announced it will create a secondary base at Sydney, Australia. The budget airline plans to have three Airbus A320 aircraft based at Sydney International Airport by July, which will add as many as 10 more return flights every day.

Tiger Airways is currently working to reestablish its services and reputation in Australia after the airline was grounded for 6 weeks in 2011 due to safety issues. By order of the Australia Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Tiger is currently limited to 38 flights per day, but that will increase to 64 in October 2012.

Tiger also plans to add another Airbus A320 to its fleet in order to improve its on time performance.

“Three aircraft operating from our second Australian base will provide up to 3,600 extra seats a day through Sydney Airport”, the boss of Tiger Airways Australian operations, Andrew David, said in a statement.