Tiger Airways, Singapore's low fare airline, has been granted a Foreign Carrier Air Permit from the Government of India, Civil Aviation Department (DGCA). This means the airline has cleared the final regulatory hurdle and is now ready to operate international flights between Singapore and a wide network of destinations across India.

Tiger Airways has been granted the rights to fly between Singapore and Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Trivandrum, Kolkata and Kozhikode. The airline is now in the midst of planning its flight routes and is in talks with airports and suppliers at these destinations. Tiger Airways will be announcing its initial route network to India once discussions have concluded, which the airline expects to take place fairly soon. The airline is confident that the growing demand for international low fare air travel by a fast expanding Indian economy will ensure the success of these routes.

Tony Davis, CEO of Tiger Airways said: "Having firmly established Tiger Airways as the largest international low fare airline to serve China, these new route authorities between Singapore and India represent another significant opportunity to grow our business in Asia. The company's duel strategy of a major expansion in Asia, as well as establishing the first truly low fare airline in Australia, will create new opportunities to link travel between key Australian cities such as Melbourne, Darwin and Perth with points across Asia."

Tiger Airways will be the only Singapore based low fare airline to operate flights between Singapore and India. Tiger Airways earlier this year obtained authority to operate extended twin engine operations (ETOPS), which enables the airline to operate more efficient direct routings between Singapore and points in southern India.

It expects keen demand for its reliable and affordable travel to stimulate demand for more travel between the two countries. Singapore and India have strong historic ties with Indians forming one of the major racial groups in Singapore's multiracial population. The boost of affordable air travel will also add significant socio-economic benefits to the two countries through the expansion of tourism and commercial growth.