Tourism Breaking News
Southeast Asia has long been a favoured region for Indian travellers due to its connectivity, says Jia-En Poon, Senior Manager, Sales, Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), and this trend continued in 2024. “This past summer, Southeast Asian destinations that were the top choice for Indians included Singapore, Bali, and Bangkok. We have also observed travel demand from India to Koh Samui, Krabi, Penang and Malacca,” he says.
In terms of traveller profiles out of India, she has observed mainly leisure travellers, workers, and VFR traffic. “India is an important market for Scoot. It is a country with tremendous growth potential as it rapidly establishes itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, fuelled by a burgeoning middle class, rising disposable incomes and the expansion of both domestic and international flights routes. Customer preferences are also continuously evolving, and it is important for us to stay close to the market and understand what customers want from a low-cost carrier,” Poon adds.
The increase in the number of airports and low-cost airlines has significantly enhanced connectivity throughout the country and to global destinations, making air travel more accessible. He adds, “By 2025, the aviation industry is expected to be in a state of transformation, driven by technological advancements and significant infrastructure investment. While challenges remain, the overall outlook suggests a resilient industry adapting to new realities and striving for a more sustainable future. With these evolutions in the aviation and travel landscape, we need to continually adapt to ensure that these expectations are met. We aspire to find ways to differentiate ourselves from other low-cost carriers.”
The airline currently operates to over 70 destinations across 18 countries and territories. With more aircraft deliveries on plan, it will continue to expand its network to provide even more destination choices and improved connectivity.
Scoot recently announced the launch of direct flight services to Vienna in Austria and Iloilo City in the Philippines., providing travellers accessibility to even more destinations at great value. Three times weekly flights to Vienna will begin on 3 June 2025 on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which has the capacity for 329 passengers in two cabin classes. Flights to Iloilo City will commence on 14 April 2025 on the 112-seater Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at an initial frequency of twice weekly, progressively increasing to four times weekly from June 2025.
