Earlier this week it appeared Tiger Airways – grounded since July 1st – would be back in the skies by the start of next week.

That now appears to have been optimistic, to say the least, with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) identifying further problems with the carrier, which could now be grounded for the foreseeable future.

A ban on operations has already been extended until August 11th, with CASA at pains to explain why today.

In a somewhat unconventional step, CASA earlier published a transcript of an interview with CASA representative Peter Gibson with Australian commercial talkback radio station 5AA.

Gibson explained there is still some way to go before Tiger can begin flying again.

“The main outstanding issues relate to documentation,” Gibson told 5AA.

“The particular areas we have got concerns about really relate to the control and management of all [the airline’s] suite of documentation, which is quite complex.”

While no timeframe was given, it does appear Tiger will return to the skies at some point, however.

“All these things can be fixed, but it is a matter of putting the effort into the right areas, and getting it right,” added Gibson.

“There is a hell of a lot of detail in aviation, and you have got to bury yourself down into that detail, check it carefully, make sure it is right, and that is what we are doing.”

Tiger has said it is costing it $2 million a week to remain grounded.

In a statement the carrier said: “Tiger Airways Australia and CASA are currently in ongoing discussions regarding the suspension and see no utility in having a hearing today whilst these discussions continue.”