Tiger Airways Australia's chief executive, Crawford Rix, is to leave the carrier at the end of this month, in the wake of the safety crisis which grounded the airline.

Rix was appointed to head the Australian airline only last year.

Parent company Tiger Airways Holdings' chief, Tony Davis, will take over as the new head of Tiger Airways Australia, said the company.

The carrier said it will not oppose a grounding extension being sought by the country's air transport regulator, which could keep the airline's services suspended until August.

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority is applying for court permission to ground the airline beyond its original period of five days.

Tiger Airways said it has been "working constructively" with CASA to lay out a plan to resume services, and stated that it "will not oppose the period of extension". The airline will refund fares to passengers holding reservations up to 31 July.

Tony Davis' former responsibilities will be carried out by Tiger Airways executive director Chin Yau Seng.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news