Philippines orders Tiger Airways to stop seat sale

Tiger Airways takes off at the Changi International Airport in Singapore. AFP

MANILA, Philippines— The Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board has ordered Singapore-based low-cost airline Tiger Airways to stop selling seats on its website for flights between Manila and two domestic routes for its local partner South East Asian Airlines, or SEAIR.

The board’s Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said the order was served Thursday to Tiger Airways pending final action on complaints of local airlines against Tiger Airways and SEAIR for allegedly circumventing traffic rights restrictions through an aircraft lease and marketing agreement.

Tiger Airways had been selling SEAIR flights for July between Manila and central Cebu City, and Manila and southern Davao City through its website.

Arcilla said several airlines filed a joint complaint in November on SEAIR’s aircraft lease deal with Tiger Airways and their agreement allowing Tiger Airways to market on its website SEAIR flights using leased Tiger Airways aircraft.

Hearings on those consolidated cases were completed in April. Arcilla said pending the board’s decision, Tiger started offering the Manila-Cebu and Manila-Davao seats on April 19, eliciting a new flurry of complaints from local airlines.

SEAIR President Avelino Zapanta said it has complied with the board’s order but believes its deal with Tiger Airways is legal.