Bain Capital, the new owners of Virgin Australia, has announced it will be shutting down low-budget airline Tigerair and reducing the Virgin Airlines workforce by 3,000 as the company struggles to manage the financial impacts of the global health crisis. A statement from Virgin Australia outlined the company will however retain Tigerair's licence to fly, with the possibility of relaunching the airline once its financial circumstances improve. Tigerair went into voluntary administration on the 25th March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded by Tiger Airways Holdings, it commenced services on the 23rd November 2007 as Tiger Airways Australia. In October 2012, Virgin Australia Holdings announced its intention to purchase 60% of Tiger Airways. The deal was completed in July 2013, after the airline had changed its name to Tigerair Australia. On the 17th October 2014, Virgin Australia Holdings announced plans to acquire the remaining 40% of Tigerair for $1. Virgin retained the Tigerair name and acquired the brand rights for Tigerair to operate to some international destinations from Australia. In February 2020, Virgin Australia Holdings announced it would reduce Tigerair's fleet from thirteen to eight, drop five loss-making routes, and close its Brisbane base. Operations were fully suspended on the 25th March 2020.
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| TIGER AIRWAYS A320-232 VH-VNB (CN 2906) |
Data shows the low-cost carrier, when in its prime, used to operate a fleet of 15 aircraft comprising of nine Airbus A320-232s, and six 737-800s. Virgin Australia says as part of streamlining measures, it will be disposing of the Airbus aircraft. It is still unclear if the 737s will be moved back to Virgin.
This is so sad as I had a soft stop for Tigerair, I wish all the staff well and hope they can all gain employment very soon.
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| TIGERAIR B737-838 VH-VUB (CN 34013) |
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