Cebu Pacific Air is experiencing the fastest growth among Southeast Asia’s top 10 airlines, with a 27% increase in capacity compared to March 2024, according to data from OAG.
AirAsia remains the largest airline in the region with 2.5 million seats this month, but its lead over Lion Air, the second-largest carrier, has narrowed to just 9,100 seats. While AirAsia’s capacity grew by 12.2% compared to March 2024, Lion Air’s capacity continues to decline, down 7.2%, or 191,000 fewer seats.
Low-cost carriers now account for 52% of the Southeast Asian market, outpacing the growth of mainline carriers with an increase of 9.7% compared to last year.
Indonesia remains the largest air travel market in Southeast Asia, with 10 million seats this month. However, capacity has slightly decreased by 0.5% from March 2024. Thailand follows closely behind with 7.9 million seats, reflecting a 12.5% growth in capacity from the previous year, adding 879,000 seats.
While Cambodia and Laos are small markets in terms of volume, they are growing at the fastest rates, with increases of 27.6% and 27.3%, respectively.
Overall, the Southeast Asia airline market has expanded by 8.4%, reaching a total of 39.1 million seats. International flights are growing faster than domestic ones, with increases of 9.7% and 7.4%, respectively. Domestic capacity accounts for 55% of the market.
Indonesia’s domestic market remains the largest in Southeast Asia, with 8.1 million seats, more than double that of the Philippines, which has 3.7 million seats. Among the top five domestic markets, Vietnam is experiencing the fastest growth, with an impressive 15.1% increase, followed by the Philippines and Thailand, both showing a 14.5% rise year-over-year.
Which is the Busiest Airport in Southeast Asia?
Singapore Changi continues to lead as the busiest airport in the region, with 3.6 million seats, a 4.9% increase in capacity compared to last year.
Among the Top 10 airports, Phuket is seeing the fastest capacity growth, with a 17.8% increase compared to March 2024. Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport also saw strong growth, increasing by 14.4% this month. Other airports, such as Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur International, and Ho Chi Minh City, grew by 13.8%, 13.5%, and 13%, respectively.
