We have to admit we were a little surprised to learn that the trip from Sydney to Melbourne ranks as the third-busiest travel route in the world, but if that's true, then it sure makes sense that low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has just thrown its two cents in the ring.

Since last Friday, Tiger has been running multiple flights between Sydney and Melbourne each day, with all-inclusive one-way fares starting from A$39 ($31) for the 90-minute flight. There's heavy competition from Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Qantas, but at the moment Tiger's prices are definitely amongst the lowest. If nothing else, this means that if you get Down Under, you will definitely be able to take in both Sydney and Melbourne without adding too much strain to the budget.

Related Stories:
· New Melbourne to Sydney Flight Route Takes Off [The Age]
· Tiger Airways Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: 713 Avenue] ]]> amandak 2009-07-09T11:29:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/2/103051/2089

Fondly do we recall the days of watching passengers flip out over missed flights, get pulled from flights for drunkenness, or even claim to have an invisible spouse traveling with them. This was the era of television show Airline, which covered hijinks on EasyJet and Southwest from a distance where we could all laugh, since we weren't on the crazy flights featured and were instead firmly planted on our couch.

After being canceled from A&E along with Growing Up Gotti back in 2005, the show remained in our happiest television memories until today, when we learned that Australia will be getting their own version, based around LCC Tiger Airways. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-06-02T11:34:35-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/24/55034/4888

Even though everyone's trying to get us to go to Australia, the message doesn't seem to be getting through – at least if the local airlines' actions are anything to go by.

V Australia had a promising start in the Down Under fare war but they're now complaining of a slowdown in demand, and have put back their new plane purchases by a couple of years. Two new Boeing 777s have been rescheduled from 2010 delivery to 2011 and 2012 – and that's also shelved V Australia's plans to start Oz to Johannesburg routes.

LCC Tiger Airways is also sounding a bit desperate. This weekend they've got 30,000 free flights on offer to try and fill up some of their domestic routes. Free means, of course, that you still pay taxes, but they do come out pretty cheap, with A$35 ($25) fares (and under) available. With the possibility of $500 fares to get you from the United States down to Oz, it's got to be getting tempting.

Related Stories:
· V Australia to Defer Delivery of Two Boeing Jets [The Advertiser]
· Tiger Offers Free Flights on Domestic Routes [Brisbane Times]
· Everyone Wants You To Go To Australia ... [Jaunted]

[Photo: thewamphyri] ]]> amandak 2009-04-24T15:02:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/16/2577/41974

The Australian outback is a strange beast: Part desert, part simple empty land, it covers most of the country. But it's also, some say, one of the most beautiful places on earth, and we want to tell you how to get there.

The first thing to remember is that you can't just take a day trip to the outback, like many tourists plan. It'll take a day just to get there. The easiest way is to fly into Alice Springs, pretty much smack bang in the middle of the country. Aussie airline Qantas flies in from all major Australian cities and curiously, Tiger Airways has started up a Melbourne to Alice Springs route.

A great way to get into the Outback without flying is to take the Ghan Railway from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs--a great way, but not a cheap way.

And for stubborn travelers who insist on driving into the outback themselves, the motto is to be prepared. Stock up on extra fuel, a lot of extra water, make sure your car's reliable and basically get a ton of advice or you'll risk frying up in the middle of nowhere. No matter how beautiful it is, you don't want it to be the last place you see.

Related Stories:
· And Now, An Even More Expensive Way to See the Desert [Jaunted]
· Won't Get Fooled Again [Jaunted]
· Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: anniemullinsuk]]]> amandak 2009-01-16T12:30:50-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/31/202216/27

Our favorite Korean budget carrier, Jin Air, has just done a deal to move its hub to the massive international Incheon Airport, near Seoul. The goal is to make Incheon a big Northeast Asian hub and this deal might just do it.

Singapore-based Tiger Airways got rudely shoved out of the way when it tried to start up an Incheon-based LCC, and now it turns out to be Korean-only territory.

The Incheon city council seems to be promising that the airport will deal exclusively with Jin Air over other Korean budget carriers, so it's a real coup for the Jin Air genies. With Incheon's future looking exciting with stuff like the Asian Games being held there in 2014, it's a spot we're sure to be hearing more about.

Related Stories:
· Incheon, Korean Air in Alliance [Korea Times]
· Tiger Airlines Aggression Works in Oz, Fails in South Korea [Jaunted]
· Jin Air Genies Take to Korean Skies [Jaunted]

[Photo: d'n'c]]]> amandak 2009-01-08T11:00:44-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/2/72448/73998

If you meet a tiger on the prowl it's bound to be pretty aggressive, and aggressive is a good word to describe low cost carrier Tiger Airways which just keeps on roarin'.

As if it wasn't enough to announce a million new mainland Australia routes last week, now Tiger's adding a bunch of extra flights between Melbourne and Tasmania; double the number of flights will now go to both Launceston and Hobart. The price of A$30 (US$25) is definitely a bargain.

The only place Tiger Airways is being slightly less aggressive is in Korea, where a deal with Incheon Airport to start a joint venture budget airline is now on hold. That's mainly because the local Korean budget airlines have bullied Incheon into giving up the idea. Seems tigers aren't always so brave.

Related Stories:
· Incheon Tiger Airways Postpone Budget Carrier Launch [AFP]
· Tiger Increases Flights Between Melbourne and Tasmania [Peanuts]
· Tiger Airways Adds a Ton of New Routes [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ian Fuller]]]> amandak 2008-09-02T09:33:20-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/28/6612/58687

Budget Asian carrier Tiger Airways announced a while back it was expanding its offerings in the Australian market with an Adelaide base. Finally, we have details!

A bunch of routes will head out of Adelaide to destinations such as Perth, Tasmania's capital Hobart and the Gold Coast, and they're increasing the Adelaide to Melbourne flights they've already started up. There will also be more flights from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast--they'll run daily from December--and to Alice Springs, a good base for visiting the outback and the famous red rock of Uluru.

Just like Virgin Blue's western expansion, travelers bound for Oz and the Aussies themselves will hopefully get some cheerily cheap fares out of this. And it's about time.

Related Stories:
· Tiger Increases Flight Routes [The Australian]
· Tiger Introduces Daily Melbourne Flights [The Daily]
· Tiger Now Roaring Across Australia [Jaunted]

[Photo: 713 Avenue]
]]> amandak 2008-08-28T09:33:17-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/