New MD for Tiger Airways Australia?
I think it’s time that aviation professionals and the travelling public in Australia recognised the real problems that have now resulted in the grounding of Tiger Airways Australia. You can read the recent press on the matter, which is now starting to publish assessment pieces on what’s transpired within Tiger, but I wonder if these articles are going to get to the real issues.
How many times are we going to stand by without action before it’s recognised and understood that the problems to which CASA has taken aim, stem directly from the aggressive approach to business that’s being pursued all airline managements. When the task becomes tough, the “revolving door” approach to airline managements takes over and they move on, which is what we’re now seeing in the Australian aviation business and within other aviation market areas.
Since commencing operations in November 2007 under the helm of Tony Davis CEO, Tiger Aviation (Singapore) has installed its third Managing Director in less than four years into its Australian operation. Each one has opened with the same style of brief, an aggressive approach to business, “Fly Cheaper” (company slogan) and embarked with a “new” broom, before moving on in a fairly quick fashion to something else.
Ø Nov 2007, Chris Ward,
Initial MD for start-up, departed Jun 2008, to set-up Incheon Tiger Airways, Korea
Ø Jun 2008, Shelley Roberts
In from Macquarie Airports, (SACL. EasyJet, KPMG), departed Mar 2010 for a “rest”.
Ø Mar 2010, Crawford Rix,
In from BMI Baby UK, incumbent
In the case of Tiger Airways Australia, you only have to look at the length of time and the extent of the issues within the PPRUNE “Tiger Tales” thread to realise that all is not as it should be within this operation. It’s become apparent that the company’s approach to business can’t afford the level of safe operation that’s required by the regulator, CASA.
With the arrival of Tony Davis CEO in Australia, he “publicly rejected CASA's reasoning for the grounding during an ABC radio interview on Saturday and denied there were immediate risks to air safety” (The Trouble with Tiger, "Endangered Tiger Airways goes to Ground" – The Australian).
“The Trouble with Tiger” is its management and their view of safety within their business.
Dragonfly
Last edited by dragonflyhkg; 3rd Jul 2011 at 21:01.