Scoot, the budget airline subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Group, has officially announced the first six destinations in Southeast Asia that will be served by its upcoming fleet of Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, starting May 2024.
These destinations include two new additions, Koh Samui and Sibu, along with existing locations such as Hat Yai, Kuantan, Krabi, and Miri in Malaysia and Thailand. This move aims to bolster Scoot’s connectivity in the region and emphasise Singapore’s strategic position as a regional hub.
Scheduled to commence service in May 2024, after the initial delivery of the first out of nine Embraer E190-E2 aircraft in April 2024 from the manufacturing facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil, these new aircraft will enable Scoot to offer direct flights from Singapore to non-metro cities across Southeast Asia. The airline anticipates this will facilitate better connections through Singapore, leveraging its extensive network.
The inaugural E190-E2 aircraft, dubbed Explorer 3.0, is expected to arrive in Singapore in April 2024. From 7 May 2024, it will start operating flights to Krabi and Hat Yai, increasing the flight frequency to these destinations from seven to ten times weekly.
Following the arrival of the second E2 also in April 2024, Scoot plans to expand its services to four additional cities – Koh Samui, Kuantan, Miri, and Sibu. The schedule includes daily flights to Koh Samui beginning from 13 May 2024, with plans to increase this to twice daily by early June 2024. Furthermore, from 20 May 2024 and 3 June 2024, respectively, the frequency of flights to Miri and Kuantan will increase from three to four times weekly, and Sibu will see the launch of thrice-weekly flights from 5 June 2024. By June 2024, Scoot aims to operate 103 weekly flights to Malaysia and 92 weekly flights to Thailand.
Scoot’s expansion to 69 destinations, including Koh Samui and Sibu, signifies a growth phase for the airline, enhancing both its regional connectivity and Singapore’s role as a key aviation hub.
The seats on these E190-E2 flights will gradually be up for sale via Scoot’s website, mobile app, and other sales channels, with all-inclusive sale fares for Economy class starting from SGD172 to Koh Samui and SGD72 to Sibu, taxes included.
Mr. Leslie Thng, Scoot’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed optimism about the airline’s growth and the strategic expansion of its network. “We are delighted to unveil the first six destinations to be helmed by our new Embraer E190-E2s to cities in Malaysia and Thailand, including two exciting new additions to our network. This marks a new chapter of growth for Scoot and the SIA Group, and a significant step in strengthening our presence and connectivity in the region,” he said. Thng also highlighted the airline’s confidence in the growing demand for air travel within the region and its commitment to exploring new opportunities and extending its service offerings to more destinations in the future.
