SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has signed a contract to buy 30 Airbus A320s, with 20 more on option, the European aircraft manufacturer said.

The signing confirms a letter of intent signed in June for the purchase of the planes worth a catalogue price of US$2.2 billion (S$3.2 billion).

The aircraft will be deployed in Tiger Airways' Asia Pacific network and a new domestic operation in Australia scheduled to be launched out of Melbourne on Nov 23, pending regulatory approval, Airbus said in a statement issued late Tuesday.

It quoted Tiger Airways chief executive Tony Davis as saying the carrier is expanding its fleet 'to meet continued strong demand for affordable air travel across the Asia Pacific region.'

The medium-range, single-aisle planes would carry 180 passengers and be delivered between 2011 and 2014.

Tiger Airways already has nine A320 planes in its fleet and plans to take delivery of 11 more in 2010.

The airline is 49 per cent owned by national carrier Singapore Airlines. -- AFP