Tiger airways to open Brisbane base next year

Budget airlines Tigerair Australia have announced a third base to open in Brisbane from 2014, which in turn will boost Queensland’s economy and tourism sector.

The base will also launch new routes, including Brisbane to Cairns, Darwin and Adelaide and is projected to provide 80,000 additional visitor seats annually into Queensland.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls says the announcement comes as the Newman Government is continuing to get the state back on track.

“The Tigerair base will provide more than 100 new jobs, from the flight and cabin crews to additional ground staff when it’s up and running in March next year, with Queensland to account for 59% of Tigerair’s capacity,” says Nicholls.

"The Newman Government’s strategic approach to attract new aviation routes and flights has been important in helping to restore Queensland’s pre-eminence as a tourist destination,” says Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey.

“We established the $8 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund to secure new aviation business and routes into Queensland.

“Queensland’s leisure destinations of Mackay, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast have featured on Tigerair Australia's flight schedule since the airline commenced in Australia in 2007.

“Coupled with the airlines announcement of Sydney-Proserpine service, today’s announcement will also bring a significant boost to the state’s $22 billion tourism industry – one of the four pillars of the economy,” says Stackey.

The Newman Government is hoping to double overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.

Two new A320 aircrafts will also be based in Brisbane.