Singapore - Singapore's upcoming low-fare airline Tiger Airways has applied for an operating license, company officials said Tuesday amid media reports that it will also go head-to-head with major carriers.
Tiger Airways will fly to destinations up to five hours from Singapore and is "possibly looking at the big cities and leisure points as well," the Straits Times quoted the airline's adviser Charlie Clifton as saying.
However, a spokesperson from the airline told AFP they were not ready to disclose specific destinations yet.
The Singapore government is already laying out plans to accommodate the operations and possible expansion of low cost carriers (LCCs) such as Tiger Airways.
A terminal specifically tailored to meet the needs of budget airlines will be added at Singapore's Changi Airport, Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong said in parliament on Monday.
"This way, we will ensure that we are well prepared should the LCCs take off in a big way in Asia," he said.
Tiger Airways' license application was filed with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
The airline, jointly owned by Singapore Airlines, the founders of European no-frills carrier Ryan Air, state-owned investment agency Temasek Holdings and American investors Indigo Partners, said it expects to start flights in the fourth quarter of this year.
It will face competition from a number of budget airlines based in Southeast Asia such as market leader AirAsia of Malaysia as well as upcoming carriers ValuAir from Singapore and Nok Air from Thailand. - AFP