Tiger grounding points to larger low-cost safety issues
The grounding of Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways in Australia is an indication that safety regulation procedures have not kept pace with the fast expansion of the low-cost airline model.
This is the view of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the global umbrella group for unions across 154 countries, including 275 unions from the aviation sector, which has issued a statement about the unprecedented grounding of an airline’s entire fleet.
ITF civil aviation secretary Gabriel Mocho said: “Tiger is a budget airline, operating in a low cost carrier sector that has boomed in recent years, especially in the Asia Pacific region. It’s a sector where there’s been so much expansion, so many startups and failures, that there are worries that the regulation that is needed, and which traditionally applies to airlines, hasn’t caught up. The regulatory authorities are going to have to look more widely than at just one airline.”
He added: “We believe that the reported decreases in safety and pilot training are a direct consequence of that low cost model and that there is a price to pay for such low fares and deregulation – and it is safety.”
Of the decision by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to ground Tiger’s 10 jets for five days while safety checks are made, he added: “This is a very serious move, but we believe it is the right one. It will negatively affect both passengers and Tiger’s workforce, and we’re sorry about that, but safety always has to come first.”
Shares in Tiger Airways in Singapore plunged almost 20% on Monday. Australian domestic flights will be suspended until July 9.
Dinah
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026