Cebu Pacific becomes latest Tigerair partner. Can LCC alliances counterbalance AirAsia and Lion?

Tigerair has forged an alliance with Cebu Pacific as part of an agreement to sell the group's small Philippine affiliate to the country's largest low-cost carrier. As it essentially only involves interlining and coordination on overlapping routes, the partnership is not that deep - at least not initially. But it has broader potential ramifications for Asia's dynamic and fast-growing LCC sector.

Cebu Pacific will be Tigerair's third partner following Indian LCC SpiceJet and Singapore Airlines long-haul low-cost subsidiary Scoot. More partners will follow, including potentially Thai Airways' LCC affiliate Nok, which has a new partnership with Scoot.

Cebu Pacific, Tigerair and SpiceJet are similarly sized. Combined, the three have the scale and network to match their much larger competitors - leading Asia-Pacific LCC groups AirAsia, Lion and Jetstar.