Singapore-based low cost carrier Tiger Airways aims to establish at least one new base in the Southeast Asia region by the end of this year, according to Channel News Asia report on Thursday.

It quoted the airliner's chief executive officer Tony Davis as saying that Tiger Airways has been in talks with potential partners to "establish new companies around the region all under the Tiger network" on a joint venture basis or partnership franchise basis.

Though no detail about the new bases has yet been revealed, Tiger Airways plans to increase the number of routes it operates from the current 15 to 20 by the year-end.

Apart from flying to more cities in China and Southern India, the airline will also launch flights to new countries like Cambodia and Brunei, the report said, adding that its fleet is to expand from the present 12 planes to 20 in the next three to four years.

The budget carrier is also planning an initial public offering when the time is right.

Established in December 2003, Tiger Airways flew its first flight in September 2004. It welcomed its one millionth passenger in March this year and saw an 81 percent jump in the number of passengers in the second quarter of 2006 year-on-year.

The Singapore Airlines owns 49 percent of Tiger Airways' shares.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2006)