Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has announced that it has agreed in principle to acquire 100% of its publicly listed partner Skywest Airlines (Australia) (Perth International) and will make a cash and shares offer to its existing shareholders. Skywest currently operates six ATR 72-500s and two ATR 72-600s on behalf of Virgin Australia on regional services from Brisbane and Sydney Kingsford Smith. Skywest's remaining fleet consists of an A320-200, ten Fokker 100s and eight Fokker 50s that operate scheduled services as well as mining charters in Western Australia. Virgin Australia has announced two separate transactions on the same day including a plan to acquire 60% in low-cost carrier Tiger Airways Australia (Melbourne Airport) from Tiger Airways (Singapore Changi) for $35 million AUD ($36 million USD). Tiger and Virgin plan to expand Tiger's Australia based A320-200 fleet from 11 to 35 aircraft by 2018 to establish it as a more relevant competitor to Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith)'s Jetstar Airways (JQ, Melbourne Airport) low-cost carrier subsidiary. Tiger shareholder Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) will take a 10% stake in Virgin Australia as part of the cooperation the two carriers have already launched.