Routes News in Brief

Scoot adds new routes to Chiang Rai, Okinawa and Tokyo (Haneda): Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), announced the launch of new flight services to Chiang Rai in Thailand, and Okinawa and Tokyo (Haneda) in Japan. These flights will commence progressively between December 2025 and March 2026, offering more options for holidaymakers planning their year-end and new year travels. Scoot will begin five times weekly flights to Chiang Rai on 1 January 2026 on the Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. Three times weekly flights to Okinawa will begin on 15 December 2025 on the Airbus A320 family aircraft, while daily flights to Tokyo (Haneda) will begin on 1 March 2026 on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. With the launch of services to Chiang Rai, Okinawa and Tokyo (Haneda), Scoot will operate 111 weekly flights to Thailand and 45 weekly flights to Japan. With the new additions to its network, the airline will operate to 76 destinations (including Singapore) across 18 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. Aside from the new destinations, Scoot will be increasing flight frequencies within its network to support anticipated demand for air travel during the upcoming holiday periods. In Southeast Asia, flights to Bangkok increased from 35 to 39 times weekly from August 2025. Ipoh will see increased services from 17 to 21 times weekly from November 2025. Chiang Mai will also see progressive increase in frequencies to 14 times weekly by December 2025, up from seven times weekly. In North Asia, services to Tokyo (Narita) (via Taipei) will progressively increase to 14 times weekly from October 2025, up from 12 times weekly. Services to Sapporo (Hokkaido) (via Taipei) will also increase from four to seven times weekly from December 2025. Correspondingly, services between Singapore and Taipei will gradually increase from 23 to 25 times from October 2025 and 25 to 28 times from December 2025. Additionally, flights to Jeju will increase from five to seven times weekly from January 2026. In Europe, frequencies to Vienna will increase from three to four times weekly from March 2026. Akasa Air adds Phuket as 6th international destination: Akasa Air announced the addition of Phuket as the sixth international destination to its network. Starting September 20, 2025, the airline will operate daily direct flights connecting Mumbai with Phuket. This launch marks Akasa’s foray into Southeast Asia. Phuket is a popular vacation destination that attracts travellers from all corners of the country. This expansion will foster existing trade ties between India and Thailand and also provide greater accessibility to tourists seeking world-class beach experiences, a vibrant culture, and an occasion to relish its unique culinary delights. The routes offer convenient morning and evening departures and arrivals in India, ensuring maximum flexibility for travellers. Commenting on the announcement, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are thrilled to foray into Southeast Asia with the addition of Phuket to our global network. India is entering a new era of outbound tourism powered by its large population of globally curious flyers. With conveniently timed daily direct flights connecting Mumbai with Phuket, we are not only catering to the aspirations of modern Indian travellers but also strengthening the cultural and economic bridges between India and Thailand. We remain committed to building a holistic network by continuing expansion on strategically significant international corridors and catering to the travel-ready India, backed by our signature Akasa experience.” AirAsia X opens route to  Istanbul: AirAsia X (AAX) announced it is launching a route to Istanbul, Türkiye from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur. The new service between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul will commence on 14 November 2025 with four weekly flights, strengthening AAX’s global footprint and offering more affordable travel options to one of the world’s most iconic destinations. This strategic launch marks AAX’s long-anticipated entry into Europe, opening a vital gateway linking Southeast Asia to Europe via one of the world’s most historically rich and geographically unique destinations. Straddling two continents across the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul offers travellers the rare opportunity to experience the best of both worlds. The airline will operate from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a major hub with connections to over 117 international and 40 domestic destinations. Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said: “Istanbul has always been a dream destination for many of our guests, and its launch marks another proud moment in our journey to rebuild stronger than ever. Hot on the heels of our recent expansion into Central Asia, this long-awaited route takes us one step closer to delivering longer connectivity across continents. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul perfectly captures our vision to bridge Asia and beyond through affordable, medium-haul travel. This is a strategic decision that strengthens our network, creates more pathways for business collaboration, and enhances access to new experiences for travellers around the world. With the introduction of the Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul route, Singaporean travellers can now enjoy seamless Fly-Thru connection to one of the world’s most iconic transcontinental cities through a more affordable travel option.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]