TIGER Airways yesterday unveiled quarterly figures showing robust growth and introduced a new group structure headed by an independent chairman, Daniel Ee.

The budget carrier yesterday presented its first quarter operating numbers showing Q1 year-on-year passenger growth of 46.3 per cent, against a capacity increase of 34.3 per cent. This resulted in a 5-percentage-point rise in load factor.

And with demand for regional leisure air travel remaining robust, first quarter gross revenue grew by 84 per cent y-o-y.

Year-to-date, the airline carried 77 per cent more passengers and lifted its revenue by 143 per cent.

While exact operating numbers were unavailable, industry insiders believe that the Singapore Airlines associate is enjoying a system-wide load factor of just over 70 per cent, and could be turning in a profit as it flies into its fourth year of operations.

During a media briefing yesterday, Tiger's chief executive Tony Davis unveiled a new group structure and the appointment of an independent chairman to lead the group during its next phase of growth.

The new structure comprises a holding company, Tiger Aviation Group, which will have 100 per cent control of two subsidiary airline operating units - Tiger Airways Singapore and Tiger Airways Australia.

Mr Davis also announced the appointment of Chris Watt as the new managing director of Tiger Airways Singapore, while Mr Davis would double as the managing director for Tiger Australia until a suitable candidate is appointed. Also joining the group as chief operating officer is former bmiBaby and easyJet executive, Steve Burns.

Mr Ee, a former investment banker and corporate personality who holds directorships in over half a dozen companies and organisations including Citibank Singapore, listed-Surface Mount Technology and National Environment Agency, heads the group as its independent chairman.

'Daniel has extensive local and regional experience in varied fields of finance, aviation, service and manufacturing industries, as well as within Singapore government ministries,' said Mr Davis. 'With his extensive knowledge of the region, the board and management team are confident he will add value to the long-term growth of the Tiger Airways Group.'

Mr Ee, who takes over the chairmanship from Bill Franke, whose Indigo Group holds 24 per cent of Tiger Airways, is also the chairman of Gas Supply Pte Ltd, a leading importer of natural gas from Sumatra, and used to sit on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore from 1995 to 2005.

He told the media that he would focus on supporting the continued growth of Tiger Airways, and the development of the airline into a major pan-Asian low fare airline.

'While the management team at Tiger Airways will continue to lead the day-to-day operations, I see my role as tapping on emerging trends and opportunities to take Tiger Airways to greater heights,' said Mr Ee.

Riding high on an impressive year-on-year Q1 business result, the airline announced the launch of another new route, with services between Singapore and Xiamen, China, operating four flights weekly starting from Oct 28.

Meanwhile, the airline - which recently carried its 3 millionth passenger - is preparing to launch its new services to Chennai and Kochi in India, and said it was looking forward to receiving its AOC (Air Operator's Certificate) for its Australian domestic services. It will also launch services to Brunei next year.

Mr Davis said the airline had strong ticket updates for its eight domestic Australian routes.

With its route network stretching from India, through South-east Asia, Australia and into China, Tiger now boasts the most extensive pan-Asian footprint for any budget carrier in Asia.

The airline currently has 20 A320 planes on order, and placed a new order for 50 more of these planes during the 2007 Paris Air Show. Mr Davis said his airline would have all 70 planes in service by 2016 - almost matching the fleet of Singapore Airlines.

The airline has also placed a S$1.3 billion IAE engine order.

Mr Davis said the company had sufficient internal resources to fund its expenditure and was not considering any capital raising exercise in the near future.

Tiger is 49 per cent owned by SIA, 11 per cent by Temasek, 16 per cent by Tony Ryan's Irelandia and 24 per cent by Indigo Partners.