Ryan flair

The new airline, Tiger Airways, is to be set up by Singapore International Airlines (SIA) and is expected to start flying next year. The Ryan family’s investment vehicle Irelandia Investment is involved in the new company according to a statement by SIA yesterday that announced the new airline.
It will see Ryanair’s former director of operations Charlie Clifton joining Tiger in order to establish the company.
“Singapore Airlines and Temasek will own a majority of the new airline, but Tiger will be separately certificated and operated independently by a team specially recruited for the low-cost airline,” said the statement.
Clifton said Singapore has always been at the forefront of the aviation industry, and it therefore should be no surprise that Tiger is establishing its first base here, in partnership with SIA.
“I am confident that the new airline will deliver the benefits that low cost carriers can bring in terms of tourism and job creation, not only to Singapore, but also to the other countries it serves,” Clifton said.
In addition to the Ryans, an investment company headed by Ryanair chairman David Bonderman, Indigo Partners, will take a 24 percent share in the company.
Other investors include Singapore Airlines, which will hold 49 percent and Singapore’s investment agency Temasek Holdings, which will control an 11 percent stake. The airline is expected to fly mainly out of Changi and will offer fares over the Internet.
The involvement of the Ryan family and Clifton is being heralded in Asian circles as a smart move by SIA. The company will compete directly with ValuAir and regional rivals like Malaysia’s AirAsia and Indonesia’s Lion Air.
“It will be a good complement – a consumer-friendly initiative – that will complement Singapore Airlines’ full-service network operations,” said Chew Choon Seng, CEO of Singapore Airlines.
Budget-airlines are viewed as being increasingly viable in the region and the news follows a recent decision by Quantas to launch a budget carrier there next May.