An Australian man faces severe penalties in Singapore - including a caning - for allegedly swearing during an argument on board a Tiger Airways plane earlier this month.

The incident occurred on January 3 on board an overnight flight from Perth to Singapore; when the plane landed, the man was arrested.

The West Australian has identified the man as 47-year-old maritime worker Bruce Griffiths.

Quoting a colleague of Mr Griffiths who did not want to be named, the newspaper said the argument broke out when Mr Griffiths got out of his middle seat to let a female passenger go the toilet.