Airline News in Brief 12 April 2026

Scoot launches more flights to Indonesia: Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), announced the launch of new flight services to Belitung and Pontianak in Indonesia. Operated by the Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, these flights will commence in May and June 2026 respectively. Belitung is a tropical gem tucked away in the eastern coast of Sumatra, and known for its unique geological formations, rich biodiversity, and pristine coastlines. The island is also home to the Belitung Tarsier, a nocturnal primate subspecies unique to the island. From 3 May 2026, Scoot will launch two times weekly flights to Belitung. Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, sits directly on the equator and is home to the Equator Monument, where visitors can stand between the northern and southern hemispheres. This culturally rich riverside city, set along Indonesia’s longest river, the Kapuas River, also enjoys a reputation as a food haven with its wide variety of local specialities. From 29 June 2026, Scoot will operate three times weekly flights to Pontianak. With the launch of services to Belitung and Pontianak, Scoot’s network will increase to 85 destinations across 18 countries and territories. In addition to the new destinations, Scoot will also be increasing flight frequencies within its network to support the demand for air travel, especially during the upcoming school holiday season. From April 2026, flights to Phuket will increase from 17 to 21 times weekly and flights to Sibu will increase from three to four times weekly. From June 2026, flights to Bali and Jakarta will increase from 28 to 35 times weekly. In the same month, services to Labuan Bajo will increase from two to three times weekly, services to Lombok will increase from four to 10 times weekly and services to Manado will increase from six times weekly to daily flights. In North Asia, frequencies to Okinawa will increase from three to four times weekly from April 2026. Similarly, frequencies to Changsha will increase from four to five times weekly. In Europe, frequencies to Vienna will increase from three to four times weekly from June 2026. Air Astana celebrates launch of Shanghai service: Air Astana is celebrating the launch of a new direct service from Almaty to Shanghai with a press conference at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The opening of this new service to the Shanghai, China’s largest and most commercially dynamic city, is a major step forward in the ongoing expansion of Air Astana’s network across the country. The new Almaty to Shanghai route, launched in end of March, operates three times per week and compliments Air Astana’s existing network of services to Beijing, Guangzhou, Sanya and Urumqui and Yining. The addition of Shanghai strengthens the airline’s long-term commitment to developing connectivity between Kazakhstan and China, which began with its first flight between Almaty and Beijing in December 2002. With Shanghai now part of the network, the Air Astana Group offers up to 32 weekly services between Kazakhstan and six Chinese cities, providing passengers with increased travel options and supporting both point-to-point and transit flows across Central Asia, the Caucasus, Europe and Asia. In 2025, the Group carried more than 250,000 passengers between Kazakhstan and China, representing a 96% increase compared to 2024. Etihad launches Dhaka services: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will launch a seasonal service to Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 26 June 2026, strengthening trade and cargo links across the South Asia corridor, while responding to strong and sustained demand for travel and logistics between the UAE and Bangladesh. The four-times weekly service to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) will strengthen connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Bangladesh, while supporting the continued expansion of cargo flows alongside passenger demand across the airline’s global network, with Abu Dhabi serving as a key gateway for trade between South Asia and international markets. Operated by Etihad’s Boeing 777 aircraft, the service will offer 28 Business and 374 Economy seats, providing significant widebody bellyhold capacity to support growing cargo flows, alongside passenger demand, on a route that is critical for trade, business connectivity and family travel. The service forms part of Etihad’s phased approach to rebuilding and expanding its network, with capacity deployed in line with demand across key markets. The seasonal service will also open valuable connections for the significant Bangladeshi diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Italy and North America, who will be able to travel via Abu Dhabi to Dhaka with ease. The route will serve both point-to-point travellers between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka, as well as those connecting beyond. Vietjet increases holiday capacity: Vietjet will operate nearly 3,800 flights across its network from April 25 to May 5, 2026, adding approximately 500 flights, or 16% year-on-year, to meet rising travel demand during Vietnam’s peak holiday period. Total seat capacity is expected to reach around 832,000 seats, an increase of 130,000 seats, up 18% compared to the same period last year. The extended public holiday this year, covering the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and the Reunification Day–International Labour Day period, is expected to be one of the busiest travel seasons in Vietnam, second only to the Lunar New Year (Tet). Additional frequencies will be deployed on high-demand Vietnam’s domestic routes connecting major cities and tourism hubs, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hue, Quy Nhon, and Phu Quoc. With stable operations across both domestic and international networks, Vietjet is well positioned to accommodate increased passenger traffic while maintaining operational efficiency. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]