Tiger Airways has cleared the first hurdle to establishing a domestic Australian operation after getting approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board.
Tiger, which is 49 per cent owned by Singapore Airlines, announced its intention to fly domestic Australian routes in February, promising consumers single digit fares.

Tiger said in a statement today that the FIRB had confirmed the creation of Tiger Airways Australia was consistent with foreign investment policy.

No specific conditions had been placed on the low cost carrier Tiger Airways chief Tony Davis said.

“I’m delighted that the FIRB has confirmed that it has no objection to the creation of Tiger Airways Australia,” Mr Davis said.

“We are very encouraged by the support that we have received from so many communities across the country and the tens of thousands of Australians who have visited our website and voted for their preferred domestic routes.”

Tiger Airways Australia will now work towards obtaining its Air Operators Certificate from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in order to start domestic services in Australia later this year.

The company said it was in the final stages of negotiation with several Australian airports for its main operating base, with a decision expected in the next few weeks.