Tiger Airways, the Singapore-based carrier part-owned by the family of the late Tony Ryan, is working with Australia's aviation regulator towards the resumption of domestic flights in the country by early August, a source said today, after its flights were grounded more than three weeks ago on safety concerns.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) is expected to lift a ban on the Singaporean budget carrier flying on August 1st, the source familiar with the situation said, although the exact timing of Tiger resuming flights was still being discussed.
A Federal Court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow to consider extending an existing flying ban which expires on July 31st, but Tiger is expected to seek an adjournment to that hearing, the source said.
Australia halted Tiger's local flights on safety concerns on July 2nd, the first time a carrier's entire fleet has been grounded in the country.
A Tiger spokeswoman said the airline continued to "work constructively" with the regulator but declined to say when it expected to resume services.
"There is no information available yet as to when Tiger Airways Australia may resume services, but it is committed to do so as soon as possible," the airline said in a statement.
Casa said no decision had been made on Tiger resuming services yet.
"We are aiming to finalise the matters on or before August 1st and we are still working towards that deadline. No decision has yet been taken," a Casa spokesman said.
Last year the Ryan family sold a large block of the 11.2 per cent stake they held in the Asian airline, which they helped to found in 2004.
Reuters