Grounded Tiger Airways vows 'all steps'

The new chief of Australia's grounded Tiger Airways said its Singapore parent was "absolutely committed" to the budget carrier and "everything necessary" would be done to get it flying again. Dispatched by Tiger Airways Singapore to take the top job after the former Australian CEO quit this week, Tony Davis said he was confident the airline would by the end of July overcome safety issues which saw it grounded. "That's the date we've given ourselves, we believe we can do that and anything that needs to be done will be done," Davis told ABC TV late Thursday. "We're committed to resuming services at the end of July, we'll do everything necessary to ensure that happens, and that's the commitment not only of me personally, but of my board and the parent company." Tiger Airways Australia has been grounded until at least August 1 by aviation regulators over "serious and imminent" safety risks related to pilot training and competency, fatigue management and other issues. The flight ban followed two recent incidents where flights approached an airport too low. Tiger had already been on notice to improve its performance by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Davis said the grounding was costing the airline, an Australian offshoot of Tiger Airways Singapore, Aus$2 million ($2.1 million) a week, but he insisted it would recover and had a strong future. "The board of Tiger Airways is absolutely committed to the airline here in Australia," said Davis, until this week the president of parent group Tiger Airways Holdings. "My appointment is a tangible demonstration of that commitment." "We're committed to a long-term future and I think Australians want us to be here to ensure that there is competition in the air sector," he added. In addition to CASA's investigation, Davis said Tiger was conducting a "comprehensive" internal review to satisfy itself that its services were "safe and viable" and ensure it had a clean slate. "It's about a fresh start, it's about addressing that anything that needs to be addressed and it's about having a long-term, viable, safe airline here in Australia," he said. Singapore Airlines holds 32.9 percent equity stake in Tiger Airways Holdings, and it has said it has no plans to reduce its share following the Australia grounding.