Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines has today started operatings its first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft with a launch event at Singapore’s Changi airport. The first E190-E2 will take off on its inaugural flight to Krabi and Hat Yai in Thailand today.
Apart from two Thai destinations, Scoot’s Embraer aircraft will fly to Koh Samui in Thailand from May 13 from Singapore and two Malaysian cities – Miri and Kuantan from May 20 and June 3 respectively. From June 5 onwards, Scoot’s E190-E2 will also start flight to Central Sarawak’s Sibu city.
This new fleet of aircraft will enhance Scoot’s network connectivity and strengthen its presence in the region. The low-cost carrier has placed an order for 9 Embraer aircraft out of which two has already been delivered.
The second E190-E2 aircraft has also arrived in Singapore and is in the final phase of preprations for opeations. The remaining seven Embraer airacraft are expected to be progressively delivered by the end of 2025.
Regional jets like the E2s series of Embraer jets are designed for short-to-medium-range operations. Their smaller passenger capacity makes them ideal for operating new routes to smaller but growing markets within the region, as well as enabling additional flights on existing routes. This will help enhance the Singapore air hub’s network connectivity in Southeast Asia.
At the launch event at Changi Airport, Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, Government of Singapore said the ocassion also marks the first time an aircraft from Embraer is operated by an Singapore air carrier.
“The addition of the Embraer E2s to Scoot’s fleet represents an important milestone in Changi Airport’s continued growth. Expanding our network in the region will allow us to serve our travellers better and meet rapidly growing demand in the Southeast Asian market. Singaporians will also benefit from more travel options and service offerings,” said the Minister at the launch event.
Yet the European company is unlikely to extend its advantage in the Airbus-Boeing duopoly much further despite having customers clamoring for more commercial aircraft, according to aviation analysts. The reason: Airbus already is making planes as fast as it can and has a backlog of more than 8,600 orders to fill.
The aviation sector in Singapore has recovered strongly since the Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger traffic at Changi Airport crossed pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of the year. In Q1 2024, Changi Airport saw 16.5 million passenger movements, reaching 101 per cent of pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Talking about inducting the Embraer fleet into Scoot’s network, Leslie Thang, CEO, Scoot said the E190-E2 with its modern operating capabilities and fuel-efficient credentials was a natural choice as the airline looked to growt its fleet and network.
“We are confident that with this new generation aircraft, we will continue to strengthen our presence in the region, enchance our connectivity to non-metro destinations and provide our customers with even more memorable travel experiences,” he mentioned.
Notably, the Embraer E190-E2 is the quietest and most fuel efficient single aisle aircraft.
Scoot currently flies to 67 destinations across 15 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. To date, Scoot has carried over 82 million passengers with a fleet of over 50 aircraft comprising widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners, single-aise Airbus A320 family aircraft.
No long term plan for India launch
Scoot also flies to India to six destinations namely Amritsar, Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Trivandrum and Vizag. On ETTravelWorld’s query of expansion to the Indian market, Thang ruled out immediate expansion but said India is an important market for Scoot and the airline might look at possibility of operating Embraer aircraft in India in near future. He said Scoot is looking to expand to other Southeast Asian cities with the induction of Embraer aircraft.
The airline’s Embraer destinations include 4 Thai cities – Krabi, Koh Samui, Hat Yai and Kuantan and two Malaysian cities Miri and Sibu.
“It’s not difficult to achieve (pre-Covid levels of tourist arrivals from India this year) with an increase in the number of Indian passports, the rise of the middle class and strong connectivity between both the countries,” STB’s regional director – India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa, Markus Tan told PTI over a telephonic conversation.
