Singapore based low cost carrier Scoot is expanding its Indonesian network with the launch of two new routes and significant frequency increases across its Southeast Asian and international operations, reinforcing its parent Singapore Airlines Group’s strategy of capturing growing regional travel demand through its budget arm.
Scoot will launch services between Singapore and Belitung from 3 May 2026, operating twice weekly, followed by a new Singapore to Pontianak route from 29 June 2026, operating three times weekly. Both routes will be served using the carrier’s Embraer 190 E2 aircraft, marking a continued deployment of the smaller capacity type on thinner regional routes where the airline sees growth potential.
Belitung, an island off the east coast of Sumatra known for its beaches and granite rock formations, has emerged as a popular leisure destination for Singaporean and regional travellers. Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, offers connectivity to one of Indonesia’s less served but economically significant provincial centres.
Beyond the new routes, Scoot is implementing substantial frequency increases across its existing Indonesian network. Flights to Phuket will rise from 17 to 21 times weekly, while combined services to Bali and Jakarta will increase from 28 to 35 weekly frequencies. Lombok will see a significant jump from four to 10 weekly flights, Manado will increase to daily service, and Labuan Bajo will rise from twice to three times weekly. Sibu in Malaysia will also see an increase from three to four weekly services.
In North Asia, Scoot is increasing frequencies to Okinawa from three to four times weekly from April, and Changsha from four to five times weekly. European connectivity will also be strengthened, with Vienna frequencies rising from three to four times weekly from June 2026.
The expansion reflects a broader trend across Southeast Asian aviation, where low cost carriers are aggressively building out regional networks to capture the growing middle class travel market. Indonesia, as the largest aviation market in Southeast Asia by population, remains a key battleground for carriers based in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Scoot’s use of the Embraer 190 E2 on the new Belitung and Pontianak routes is notable. The type allows the carrier to serve thinner routes that may not justify the capacity of its mainline Boeing 787 or Airbus A320neo fleet, enabling a more granular approach to network development. This fleet flexibility has become increasingly important as carriers look to match capacity precisely to demand on secondary and tertiary routes.
The frequency increases across Bali, Jakarta, Lombok and other Indonesian destinations also come at a time when Indonesia’s tourism sector is pushing aggressively for international arrivals. The Indonesian government has set ambitious targets for visitor numbers, and increased air connectivity from Singapore, one of the primary gateway hubs for international tourists entering Indonesia, directly supports those goals.
For the broader Southeast Asian aviation market, Scoot’s expansion underscores the continuing shift in network strategy among LCCs from purely point to point operations towards more integrated, hub fed models that leverage parent airline connectivity. Passengers originating from beyond Singapore can connect through Changi onto Scoot’s regional network, creating a dual brand strategy that the Singapore Airlines Group has refined over the past decade.
The new routes and frequency increases are expected to come into effect progressively from May through June 2026.
