Tiger Airways passengers up 47% to 5.5mln

Load factor from September 2009 to August 2010 increased by 5 percentage points to 86%.

Tiger Airways maintained solid passenger volumes and load factors in August 2010.

From September 2009 to August 2010, a total of 5.5 million passengers chose to fly with Tiger Airways, an increase of 47% over the 3.7 million passengers in the preceding 12 months. The average load factor for the 12-month period to August 2010 was 86%, an increase of 5 percentage points year-on-year.

The average load factor for the group increased by 5 percentage points to 86%, from 81% in August 2009. The total number of passengers in August 2010 grew 18% over last year to 442,000 compared to an 11% increase in capacity, according to a Tiger Airways report.

Tony Davis, President and Group CEO of Tiger Airways Holdings, said, “We are pleased to report yet another set of solid traffic results for the current financial year.

“This is especially encouraging in view of several factors.  During the month of August, which is historically a quieter travel month for the group, we scheduled several major maintenance checks, which effectively meant an aircraft was removed from our normal flying programme. In addition, August last year was the first full month of new Sydney services from both Melbourne and Adelaide, which led to a significant increase in passenger numbers in the prior year.

“Whilst we have not received any new aircraft into our fleet so far this financial year, we will take delivery of 9 new aircraft and return 2 older aircraft before the end of March. The first of these new aircraft will be delivered later this month and enter into service from our Singapore base in October. Tiger Airways Australia has recently announced an additional aircraft will be joining its fleet in Melbourne during December. As a result of these additional aircraft deliveries during the traditionally stronger half of our financial year, we expect continued strong increases in passenger numbers” said Tony Davis.