Low fare airline Tiger Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of an additional 50 Airbus A320 aircraft. The order represents 30 firm deliveries and 20 options.

This follows on the airline's recent order of sixteen aircraft to be delivered by 2010. This additional investment is valued at almost US$4 billion at list prices.

This latest purchase by Tiger Airways supports the next phase of the airline's rapid expansion as Asia-Pacific's leading low fare airline. With this major order, Tiger Airways has the ability to grow its fleet to 70 Airbus aircraft and have one of the region's largest and fastest growing fleet. Aircraft deliveries from this new order are scheduled from 2011 onwards.

"Tiger Airways is enjoying impressive growth and we are expanding our aircraft fleet to meet continued strong demand for affordable air travel across the Asia Pacific region. This new order will take the total Tiger Airways fleet of A320 aircraft to 70, making Tiger Airways one of the region's largest A320 operators," said Tony Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Tiger Airways.

"In just two years, Tiger Airways has developed into a formidable success story, and we are delighted that they did it with our aircraft and are continuing to expand with Airbus jetliners. The A320 is undoubtedly the world's favourite single-aisle aircraft, offering superb economics and high passenger appeal," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.

The A320s will be deployed on the airline's network in South East Asia and will include Tiger Airways' new domestic services within Australia that will start later this year.