Tiger plans to set up a second base in Sydney. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
LOW-cost carrier Tiger Airways says it will set up a second Australian base in Sydney as aviation regulators ease restrictions on the troubled airline.
The move comes as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) granted permission to almost double the number of sectors Tiger can fly each day, from 38 up to 64 sectors from October, the Australian reported.
The increase will be implemented gradually from July.
Tiger also announced today it would have three Airbus A320 aircraft flying out of Sydney, adding about 3600 seats a day in and out of the city's airport. These included new Sydney-Brisbane and Sydney-Gold Coast services.
The base would also create 150 new jobs.
CASA grounded Tiger's Australian fleet of 10 Airbus A320s on July 2, 2011, saying it believed keeping the airline flying posed a serious and imminent risk to air safety.
The watchdog cleared Tiger to resume flying on August 2 but it is currently operating on a restricted schedule.
Moreover, all flights either start or terminate at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.
Tiger Airways Australian chief executive Andrew David said the expansion plans at Sydney signalled CASA's approval of the airline's 2012 business growth plan.
"The business goal was to have all 10 aircraft operating in Australia by the second half of 2012 and today's news proves we're on track," Mr David said.
Tiger has not made a profit in Australia since starting operations in this country in November 2007.
Sydney Airport chief executive Kerrie Mather said Tiger would, from July, fly up to 38 services a day from the harbour city, up from the current 10.
Prior to the grounding, Tiger had bases at Melbourne’s Tullamarine and Avalon airports, as well as Adelaide.
The South Australian Government was seeking about $2.5 million from Tiger for breaking a contract to maintain a base in Adelaide.
Source: A day in the life of a wizard
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