Virgin Australia has extended its offer to disrupted Tiger Airways customers with a limited range of discounted fares on selected Australian domestic city pair destinations. The offer comes as regulators extended a flight ban on Tiger by about three weeks due to safety concerns.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority filed an application in the Federal Court on 7 Jul 2011, seeking an extension to the suspension of Tiger Airways Australia period until 31 Jul 2011. CASA said the suspension may be lifted before August 1 if it satisfies safety standards at an earlier date.

Meanwhile, Tiger customers who are holding bookings made on or before 1 July for travel from 9 July up to and including 17 July 2011 can take advantage of the Virgin flights.

Virgin offers $130 one way, including 23kg checked baggage, for travel between Adelaide and Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane and Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, Hobart and Melbourne, Melbourne to Gold Coast, Melbourne to Sunshine Coast, and Sydney to Sunshine Coast.

Fares cost $260 one way, including 23kg checked baggage, for travel between Perth and Sydney and Melbourne to Perth.

Tiger Airways said fares to those passengers holding reservations between now and 31 Jul 2011 will be refunded.

According to the budget airline, it “has been working constructively with CASA for the past five days to establish a plan for the resumption of our services and will not oppose the period of extension.”

Amid grounding, however, Tiger Airways Australia announced its current CEO, Mr. Crawford Rix, will leave the airline on 31 Jul 2011.

Mr. Tony Davis, the Group President and CEO of the airline's parent company, Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd will be appointed CEO of Tiger Airways Australia, but will also continue to serve as a Director of Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd.