Tiger Airways to start flights to India in Oct

SINGAPORE: Tiger Airways will begin flying to India in October with one way fares excluding taxes starting from less than $39, the Singapore budget carrier said on Tuesday.

The airline, partly owned by Singapore Airlines (SIA), will fly to Chennai four times a week from October 28 and will operate three flights weekly to Kochi starting October 30, it said in a statement.

"This is another milestone moment for Tiger Airways," said Tony Davis, chief executive officer of Tiger Airways.

The carrier announced in June it had received a permit from India to operate flights between Singapore and Indian destinations.

Tiger Airways said it had been granted rights to fly from the city-state to six destinations in India including Chennai, Goa and Kolkata.

Tiger, which began flying in 2004, connects Singapore with destinations throughout Southeast Asia and with China.

It also flies to Perth and Darwin in Australia. The budget carrier is owned by four shareholders, including SIA which has a 49 per cent stake and state-linked Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings with 11 per cent.