Tiger Airways opened for business in August 2004. Three years later it announced it would be starting Korean and Australian subsidiaries, in an effort to expand beyond the Southeast Asian market.
Tiger Airways flies only one kind of aircraft: the Airbus 320-200, in a 180-seat configuration. The airline operate 22 of these planes, with plans to expand the fleet by adding 50 more Airbus jets between 2011 and 2014. All airplanes are purchased new; Tiger Airways does not operate second-hand aircraft.
Tiger Airways is based in Singapore, with Changi International Airport as its central hub. Flights to Thailand are Tiger Airway's largest market, with travel to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as the southern Thai destinations of Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi. There are also flights to China, Vietnam, Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.
Tiger Airways is owned by Tiger Aviation, a holding corporation. The major shareholders are Singapore Airlines, Indigo Partners, Irelandia Investments and Temasek Holdings, with Singapore Airlines owning nearly a majority share. The company has reported a loss every quarter of every year it has been in business until late March 2008, when it began turning a profit.
As a low-budget airline, there are few frills available on Tiger Airways. Given that a large share of the company is owned by the premier carrier of Singapore Airlines, it could be looked at as that company's bargain basement cousin. Light snacks such as instant noodles, as well as drinks are available on-board for purchase. The company handles 85 percent of its sales by online transaction, whereas most of the even budget airlines in Southeast Asia still rely on travel agents for ticketing.
