Canberra Airport could be one of the first sites to be dumped by Tiger Airways as the budget carrier reviews its network, an aviation expert says.
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The airline, which may resume flying as early as this week, has removed Canberra from the drop-down booking menu on its site.
Alice Springs, Darwin, Cairns, Hobart, Mackay, Melbourne (Avalon), Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast have also been removed from the booking menu.
Air Transport World senior editor Geoffrey Thomas said Tiger Airways was rationalising its services significantly and he expected them to focus on major routes which generate revenues.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded Tiger on July 1 because of concerns over pilot training, safety management and overall safety systems.
A court hearing into its suspension was adjourned for the fifth time last Friday.
A Tiger Airways spokeswoman said the priority was to "work through matters with the regulator" and resume flying as soon as possible.
"All other developments, including network to be flown, are yet to be confirmed and will be announced in due course."
The suspension setback has cost the airline about $1.5 million a week in bookings.
Mr Thomas believed the carrier would be given the all clear this week. He said Tiger had submitted the necessary paperwork and that CASA was working its way through it.
Apart from withdrawing from Alice Springs, Mr Thomas predicted Tiger would abandon the Canberra Airport site.
"Unless carriers had substantial government contracts, they would struggle to be profitable in Canberra," Mr Thomas said.
Canberra Airport management declined to comment on the matter.
Mr Thomas said, "I think they're [Tiger] really struggling with Canberra because Canberra basically revolves around government and government contracts."