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Update on Tiger
Tiger Airways to get all-clear to fly today
Tiger Airways to get all-clear to fly today
Andrew Heasley
August 10, 2011 - 1:32PM
The six-week grounding of Tiger Airways Australia is expected to be lifted today by the aviation safety authority, a day ahead of tomorrow's scheduled Federal Court hearing.
But realistically it could take the airline time to get back into the air, in order to sell seats and ready pilots, cabin crew, support staff and airliners for duty.
Fairfax Media believes Tiger's first flight could take off as early as Friday from Melbourne on one of its core routes, possibly to Sydney.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which pulled Tiger from domestic flying on July 1 due to a "serious and imminent risk to air safety" is believed now to be satisfied the airline had met its conditions.
Fairfax Media believes the airline has met CASA's requirements over pilot proficiency, maintaining technical reference material and improving its safety management systems.
An administrative process was to be undertaken this morning, with the exchange of formal documents between the parties requiring authorisation by the Federal Court before the flying suspension can be formally lifted and announced.
This includes the safety authority's withdrawal of its Federal Court application to extend the grounding. Once its application is formally withdrawn, the suspension lifts.
This process is expected to take a few hours to conclude.
CASA issued a statement saying it would announce its decision on the airline's grounding at 2pm today.
The no-frills, Singapore-based airline's grounding has resulted in upheaval for the carrier over the past few weeks, including costing its former chief executive Crawford Rix his job.
The Singapore-based group's chief executive, Tony Davis, has relocated to Australia to fix the mess.
The grounding caused disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers who had their travel plans ruined during school holidays and beyond.
It also cost the airline dearly, nearly $12 million over the past six weeks, on top of $13.7 million in forgone ticket sales and refunds, and $1.4 in lost ancillary revenues.
That comes on top of the airline's $18 million loss from Australian operations for the first financial quarter this year.
The airline also drew the ire of federal and state consumer watchdogs for continuing to sell tickets while grounded, before suspending sales after warnings.
Ticket holders have faced weeks of delays in receiving refunds for tickets paid for flights that never took place.
Tiger's Singaporean acting chief executive Chin Yau Seng said last week "our relaunch will focus on route profitability and operational excellence", lending weight to speculation that Tiger will cull a number of its unprofitable domestic routes here, including withdrawing flights from Avalon Airport near Melbourne.
That sounds like code for we aren't going to cut corners and flights won't be so cheap....
Tiger Airways to get all-clear to fly today
Tiger Airways to get all-clear to fly today
Andrew Heasley
August 10, 2011 - 1:32PM
The six-week grounding of Tiger Airways Australia is expected to be lifted today by the aviation safety authority, a day ahead of tomorrow's scheduled Federal Court hearing.
But realistically it could take the airline time to get back into the air, in order to sell seats and ready pilots, cabin crew, support staff and airliners for duty.
Fairfax Media believes Tiger's first flight could take off as early as Friday from Melbourne on one of its core routes, possibly to Sydney.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which pulled Tiger from domestic flying on July 1 due to a "serious and imminent risk to air safety" is believed now to be satisfied the airline had met its conditions.
Fairfax Media believes the airline has met CASA's requirements over pilot proficiency, maintaining technical reference material and improving its safety management systems.
An administrative process was to be undertaken this morning, with the exchange of formal documents between the parties requiring authorisation by the Federal Court before the flying suspension can be formally lifted and announced.
This includes the safety authority's withdrawal of its Federal Court application to extend the grounding. Once its application is formally withdrawn, the suspension lifts.
This process is expected to take a few hours to conclude.
CASA issued a statement saying it would announce its decision on the airline's grounding at 2pm today.
The no-frills, Singapore-based airline's grounding has resulted in upheaval for the carrier over the past few weeks, including costing its former chief executive Crawford Rix his job.
The Singapore-based group's chief executive, Tony Davis, has relocated to Australia to fix the mess.
The grounding caused disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers who had their travel plans ruined during school holidays and beyond.
It also cost the airline dearly, nearly $12 million over the past six weeks, on top of $13.7 million in forgone ticket sales and refunds, and $1.4 in lost ancillary revenues.
That comes on top of the airline's $18 million loss from Australian operations for the first financial quarter this year.
The airline also drew the ire of federal and state consumer watchdogs for continuing to sell tickets while grounded, before suspending sales after warnings.
Ticket holders have faced weeks of delays in receiving refunds for tickets paid for flights that never took place.
Tiger's Singaporean acting chief executive Chin Yau Seng said last week "our relaunch will focus on route profitability and operational excellence", lending weight to speculation that Tiger will cull a number of its unprofitable domestic routes here, including withdrawing flights from Avalon Airport near Melbourne.
That sounds like code for we aren't going to cut corners and flights won't be so cheap....
Just heard that they have got the all clear. Will be interesting to see if the travelling public will go back to them. Even Ansett flew after Sept 11 but no one wanted to travel on them anymore.
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Even Ansett flew after Sept 11 but no one wanted to travel on them anymore.
Edit: Make that two given that we are day ahead!
No I mean the time they flew under administration. Korda Mentha accepted 150m from ANZ as a "take this and we have no further responsibility" payment so that they could play airline mogul. They flew only the A320 and I think it went until the end of Feb when Fox and Lew finally pulled the pin.
Fox and Lew wanted a government guarantee that they would make money from running the new Ansett. When this was refused they decided not to risk their own money and pulled the plug.
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No I mean the time they flew under administration.
Press Release from Tiger Website(my bolding)
MEDIA UPDATE STATEMENT FROM TIGER AIRWAYS AUSTRALIA – updated Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Melbourne, 10 August 2011: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority ("CASA") has notified Tiger Airways Australia that it will discontinue its legal action against the airline. As a consequence, the airline's Air Operator's Certificate ("AOC") has been re-instated and services will resume on Friday, 12 August 2011.
Tiger Airways Australia has worked constructively with CASA to address the concerns that were raised by the regulator, which has now enabled the AOC to be re-instated.
Tiger Airways Australia will resume ticket sales today and will implement a gradual resumption of domestic services from Friday, 12 August 2011.
The airline is resuming services with a simplified flight programme in order to focus on flying popular and profitable routes. Flights will initially resume between Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and Sydney. The resumption of services on other Tiger Airways routes will be announced shortly. As part of its simplified flying programme, Tiger Airways Australia will reduce its operating fleet from 10 Airbus A320 aircraft to eight Airbus A320 aircraft. Consequently, two Airbus A320 aircraft will be redeployed to other airline businesses in the Tiger Airways Group.
The new flight schedule will initially consolidate the business into a single crew base operating from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and as a result the crew base at Adelaide Airport will be closed and the crew base at Avalon (Melbourne) Airport will be temporarily suspended. All Tiger Airways Australia staff currently working at the Adelaide and Avalon crew bases will be offered redeployment to the Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) operation.
Passengers already booked to fly with Tiger Airways Australia from 12 August 2011 will be advised of any change to their travel plans and will be offered a range of options including a free of charge transfer to another Tiger Airways Australia flight of their choice, or if their flight is not operating a full refund back to the original form of payment or a credit for deferred travel.
Tiger Airways Australia is committed to a safe, viable and long term future in Australia. The airline remains committed to regaining the confidence its customers through an enhanced focus on punctuality and convenience, while continuing to offer Australia's most affordable air fares.
Passengers are advised to monitor the website as it will be updated regularly throughout the week with further updates.
Automatic refunds for all passengers booked to fly with Tiger Airways in August up until and including 11 August 2011, will be automatically refunded in full back to the original form of payment.
Note: services to/from Singapore are not affected, including Singapore to/from Perth.
Melbourne, 10 August 2011: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority ("CASA") has notified Tiger Airways Australia that it will discontinue its legal action against the airline. As a consequence, the airline's Air Operator's Certificate ("AOC") has been re-instated and services will resume on Friday, 12 August 2011.
Tiger Airways Australia has worked constructively with CASA to address the concerns that were raised by the regulator, which has now enabled the AOC to be re-instated.
Tiger Airways Australia will resume ticket sales today and will implement a gradual resumption of domestic services from Friday, 12 August 2011.
The airline is resuming services with a simplified flight programme in order to focus on flying popular and profitable routes. Flights will initially resume between Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and Sydney. The resumption of services on other Tiger Airways routes will be announced shortly. As part of its simplified flying programme, Tiger Airways Australia will reduce its operating fleet from 10 Airbus A320 aircraft to eight Airbus A320 aircraft. Consequently, two Airbus A320 aircraft will be redeployed to other airline businesses in the Tiger Airways Group.
The new flight schedule will initially consolidate the business into a single crew base operating from Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) and as a result the crew base at Adelaide Airport will be closed and the crew base at Avalon (Melbourne) Airport will be temporarily suspended. All Tiger Airways Australia staff currently working at the Adelaide and Avalon crew bases will be offered redeployment to the Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) operation.
Passengers already booked to fly with Tiger Airways Australia from 12 August 2011 will be advised of any change to their travel plans and will be offered a range of options including a free of charge transfer to another Tiger Airways Australia flight of their choice, or if their flight is not operating a full refund back to the original form of payment or a credit for deferred travel.
Tiger Airways Australia is committed to a safe, viable and long term future in Australia. The airline remains committed to regaining the confidence its customers through an enhanced focus on punctuality and convenience, while continuing to offer Australia's most affordable air fares.
Passengers are advised to monitor the website as it will be updated regularly throughout the week with further updates.
Automatic refunds for all passengers booked to fly with Tiger Airways in August up until and including 11 August 2011, will be automatically refunded in full back to the original form of payment.
Note: services to/from Singapore are not affected, including Singapore to/from Perth.
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Originally Posted by Soup Nazi
Closing Adelaide. Another failed foray into that aviation backwater! Is anyone ever gonna make it work there?
ST
Some of the Tiger (Aust) troops now have doubts about the future viability of Tiger in Aust and are considering their options.
Last edited by B772; 11th Aug 2011 at 00:31.
TIGER Airways' pilots were forced to prove their flying ability after the airline was grounded last month, and not all of them passed.
Mr McCormick said the number of staff employed by Tiger was not sufficient.
"We certainly didn't have confidence the (110) pilots were at a standard we required," he said.
"As a result, we had to put them all through a test, it was a normal simulator test you'd expect any airline pilot to be able to pass. There were some failures."
Read more: Tiger Airways pilots fail flying test, airline to resume services on Friday | News.com.au
Mr McCormick said the number of staff employed by Tiger was not sufficient.
"We certainly didn't have confidence the (110) pilots were at a standard we required," he said.
"As a result, we had to put them all through a test, it was a normal simulator test you'd expect any airline pilot to be able to pass. There were some failures."
Read more: Tiger Airways pilots fail flying test, airline to resume services on Friday | News.com.au
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Significant number of Jetstar NZ Captains have been watching the Tiger Story evolve. Disenchanted with the bottom of the barrel T&C's in J* NZ - a move to Tiger is appealing! Risky, maybe, but what they've endured won't hurt in the long run. With parent Singapore so keen on success, the future for the Tiger, I believe, is pretty good.
Wheeliebin.
Whilst we do not not know what the future holds Tiger (Aust) has announced they are withdrawing from a number of markets and rumour has some more to be announced such as CBR and LST. There will be a fleet reduction of at least 2 a/c. Two crew bases have been closed leaving MEL only.
Even with some resignations in the melting pot I doubt if Tiger (Aust) will recruit any pilots during the remainder of 2011.
Whilst we do not not know what the future holds Tiger (Aust) has announced they are withdrawing from a number of markets and rumour has some more to be announced such as CBR and LST. There will be a fleet reduction of at least 2 a/c. Two crew bases have been closed leaving MEL only.
Even with some resignations in the melting pot I doubt if Tiger (Aust) will recruit any pilots during the remainder of 2011.
Okie, what is your statement based on? My understanding is that when CASA suspends an AOC they can then mandate various terms and conditions on the re-issue of the AOC. This may include checking pilots. Did they do an actual IRT with associated paperwork or simply a sim check?
I found this line interesting...
I am guessing the question was asked, "how do you ensure they are able bodied, old enough etc", to which the only answer could be that the cabin crew check on board I suppose. How is that different to other carriers? I know with QF, the on line check in will not allow web check in for exit rows, from personal experience (737) and requires pax to present to a (rapidly disappearing) check in counter.
I found this line interesting...
The web check-in will remain suspended over concerns the airline was not meeting the requirement of seating "able-bodied passengers over wing exits".
Okay. Thanks for that. Which carrier? I know I could not web check in for QF on a 737 flight about three months ago. The message box that came up explained that it related to the rules about over wing exits. I could assign myself an exit row seat but it would then not let me print a boarding pass, I had to go to a desk so that they could check my "fitness" for that seat.