Tigerair Philippines launches new domestic routes

MANILA, Philippines – Tiger Airways Philippines, a unit of budget carrier Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific), is beefing up its fleet as it pursues new domestic routes in the second half of 2014.

The low cost carrier is set to take the delivery of an additional Airbus A320 in December to beef up its existing fleet of 4 A320 aircraft.

Tigerair Philippines is also set to launch its Manila – Davao – Manila and Manila – General Santos routes on November 28 and its Cebu – Davao and Cebu – Cagayan de Oro on November 29.

The airline would fly daily between Manila and Davao and 5 times a week between Manila and General Santos.

On the other hand, Tigerair Philippines is set to fly two times a week between Cebu and Davao as well as between Cebu and Cagayan de Oro as part of efforts to strengthen its Cebu hub.

Tigerair Philippines would use an Airbus A320 for the new routes.

The airline currently flies to Cagayan de Oro via Manila.

The airline now operates over 230 weekly flights to Hong Kong, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Tacloban.

Wider network

“With these 4 new routes, we will be able to serve [passengers] in time for the peak travel season in the Philippines,” Tigerair Philippines chief legal and corporate affairs Attorney Leilani de Leon said.

Gokongwei-led budget carrier Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways Singapore Holdings Ltd have created the biggest network of flights from the Philippines to the Asia Pacific region through the implementation of an interline agreement.

Tigerair also sought an additional 1,260 seats for flights to Macau from Manila.

Tigerair Philippines also filed a separate application with the Civil Aviation Board seeking 1,260 weekly seats for the Manila-Yangon route.

Cebu Pacific spent $7 million to acquire the 40% stake of Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd in Tigerair Philippines, and $8 million for the 60% stake held by Filipino businessmen. – Rappler.com