Tiger Airways Drops Darwin Flights

Source: Channel NewsAsia    Author:    08/01/2008

Subject Concerned: Airlines   Aviation Fuel   

High fuel costs have claimed another victim. Singapore's budget airline, Tiger Airways, has decided to axe its services to Darwin from both Singapore and Melbourne.

Steve Burns, Chief Operating Officer of Tiger Aviation, said: "The cost of operating to Darwin is the highest of any airport on the entire Tiger Airways' network.

"It is just incompatible for a true low fare airline to operate to such a high cost destination."

"The combined airport and fuel costs in Darwin amount to more than any of the 27 airports that the airline serves across Australia and Asia," said Burns in a statement.

Services to Darwin will be suspended from October 26 and the airlines will offer a full refund to international passengers booked on flights after that date.

Tiger Airways said it will continue to assess the situation at Darwin Airport and could re-establish services in the future if costs become more reasonable.