MELBOURNE – Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger Airways today takes to the skies on a crucial day for its Australian operations.
It will conduct proving flights for Civil Aviation Safety Authority CASA) inspectors.
The regulator must determine whether Tiger qualifies for an Air Operator’s Certificate prior to launching its domestic services in Australia on Friday.
The first proving flights were meant to take place last Thursday but these were called for what the airline referred to as the need for “extra fine-tuning”.
It won’t just be Tiger boss Tony Davis anxiously awaiting CASA’s verdict. Passengers who snaffled $9.95 tickets to Queensland for the inaugural flights won’t be flying on Friday unless Tiger gets the approval of the regulator.
Former Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Ansett crews will man the carrier’s three planes.
