Red-eye of Tiger hits skies

BUDGET airline Tigerair Australia will return to the Top End and will operate a red-eye Darwin to Brisbane route from April next year.

BUDGET airline Tigerair Australia will return to the Top End and will operate a red-eye Darwin to Brisbane route from April next year.

It marks a return to Darwin for Tigerair after controversially pulling out of the city nearly three years ago due to lack of demand.

It last flew between Melbourne and Darwin in February 2011. It has been operating an Alice Springs to Melbourne and Sydney service since April this year.

Rival budget airline Virgin Australia yesterday also announced changes to its Brisbane to Darwin scheduling, with flights out of Darwin moving from its original 1.15am time to 2.05pm.

The changes will coincide with Tigerair beginning its service to Darwin.

Virgin Australia chief commercial officer Judith Crompton said the move had been made to target Darwin business travellers who also needed to catch connecting flights from Brisbane. She said the times would complement the Tigerair service, which will leave daily from Darwin at 1am.

"We know timing is one of the most important considerations for travellers and we believe this daytime service will be very popular, offering more convenient connections to all major hubs around Australia," she said.

"Darwin is a growing commercial hub, with Virgin Australia providing direct flights from Darwin to four domestic destinations, equating to 54 flights in and out of Darwin per week."

As part of the new service Tigerair has secured two new A320 aircraft.

Darwin travellers will now have the option of three budget carriers between Brisbane and Darwin, with Jetstar the third.

Tigerair Australia chief executive Rob Sharp said the new route would provide an additional 130,000 seats to the Top End through Darwin airport each year.