Southeast Asia aviation market briefing

Latest Southeast Asia flight data insights and analysis

July 2026

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50.4m seats
▼ −1.2% YoY vs 51.0m in
Top airline
Vietnam Airlines ▲ +0.1% YoY
2.81m
Top airport
Singapore Changi · SIN ▲ +0.1% YoY
3.56m
Top country
Indonesia ▲ +0.3% YoY
10.9m

How much airline capacity does Southeast Asia have in 2026?

Overall capacity in Southeast Asia reduced by 1.2% compared to July 25 to 50.4 million seats. Domestic capacity decreased by 1.3% and now accounts for 45% of the market.

International capacity contracted by 1% and represents 55% market share.

Domestic & international · seats (millions)

Monthly scheduled capacity: July 2025 vs July 2026

Domestic 2026 Domestic 2025 International 2026 International 2025
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Southeast Asia capacity to the rest of Asia Pacific remains the largest international market with 16.4m seats, reducing by 1.3% (211,300 fewer seats) vs last year.

International capacity within Southeast Asia, the next largest market with 6.5m seats, reduced by 2.8% (186,100 fewer seats) vs July 25. Capacity to North America and Europe grew at the fastest rate increasing by 11.5% and 10.7% respectively, with 332,000 and 1.7m seats. Capacity to the Middle East declined by 3.3% vs July 25 (84,200 fewer seats).

How are low cost carriers performing in Southeast Asia?

Mainline carriers now hold 56% of Southeast Asian capacity with 28.3m seats, growing by 5.0% vs July 2025. Low cost carriers contracted by 8.1% to 22.1m seats, reducing their share from 47% to 44% year on year.

LCC contraction continues across the region, with the sharpest losses at AirAsia, Lion Air and Thai AirAsia, while mainline growth is led by Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Batik Air.

Market share & year-on-year change

Mainline vs low-cost

Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Which Southeast Asian country has the most airline seats?

Indonesia remains the largest Southeast Asia market with 10.9m seats, an increase of 0.3% vs July 25. Vietnam is the second largest market in Southeast Asia with 7.4m seats, a 5.6% increase vs last year.

Departing seats · July 2026

Top 10 countries by seat capacity

Indonesia
10.9m
+0.3%
Viet Nam
7.4m
+5.6%
Thailand
6.9m
−3.0%
Malaysia
5.2m
−8.3%
Philippines
4.9m
−4.1%
Singapore
3.6m
+0.1%
Cambodia
0.4m
−7.6%
Myanmar
0.3m
−11.3%
Lao PDR
0.2m
−5.7%
Brunei
0.1m
−4.9%
Positive YoYNegative YoYCell size = seats
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Capacity reduced in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines with 476,500, 212,600 and 205,900 fewer seats respectively. As highlighted in June's Blog regarding mid season capacity changes, this appears to be the impact of the Middle East crisis on the cost of fuel and the cost of living in the region.

Which Southeast Asian country has the most domestic flights?

Indonesia is the largest domestic market in Southeast Asia, with 8.7m seats, and capacity is largely flat, with an increase of just 0.1% in capacity compared to last July (11,400 additional seats). Domestic capacity increased at the fastest rate in Vietnam by 8.1% vs July 25, 369,700 additional seats compared to July 25.

Volume wise domestic capacity in Malaysia declined most, by 508,700 seats in July 26.

Domestic departing seats · July 2026

Top domestic markets by seat capacity

Positive YoY Negative YoY
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Which is the biggest airline in Southeast Asia?

Vietnam Airlines increased capacity by only 0.2%, but it remains the busiest airline in the region with 2.8m seats this month.

Departing seats · July 2026

Seat capacity by airline

Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Top 10 airlines by seats · July 2026 · Search-readable table

No IATA Airline Seats (Jul 2026) YoY
1.VNVietnam Airlines2.81m+0.1%
2.VJVietjet2.47m−2.8%
3.AKAirAsia2.30m−21.9%
4.JTLion Air2.25m−20.9%
5.5JCebu Pacific Air2.25m+8.3%
6.SQSingapore Airlines1.85m+4.9%
7.IDBatik Air1.46m+6.1%
8.FDThai AirAsia1.45m−22.3%
9.PRPhilippine Airlines1.34m−12.4%
10.IUPT. Super Air Jet1.29m−10.6%

AirAsia reduced capacity again this month by 644,300 seats, followed by Lion Air and Thai AirAsia by 594,500 and 416,500 seats respectively.

Cebu Pacific increased capacity at the fastest rate of 8.3% vs last year (172,200 additional seats) to 2.2m seats, followed by Batik Air which increased capacity by 6.1% (83,900 additional seats) to 1.5m seats.

The region has scheduled traffic operated by 179 airlines at 298 airports.

What is the busiest airport in Southeast Asia?

Singapore Changi remains the largest airport in the region, with 3.6m seats. Capacity is flat, up marginally by 0.1% compared to last year. Jakarta, Indonesia, is the second busiest airport, with capacity of 3.3m, representing an increase of 3.2% vs July 25.

Capacity at Bangkok Don Mueang, Manila and Kuala Lumpur reduced by 8.3%, 5.1% and 4.4%, year on year.

Capacity increased at the fastest rate of 8.1% vs last year, 166,400 additional seats, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

No Code Airport Seats YoY
1.SINSingapore Changi3.56m+0.1%
2.CGKJakarta3.32m+3.2%
3.KULKuala Lumpur3.15m−4.4%
4.BKKBangkok Suvarnabhumi3.14m−1.9%
5.MNLManila2.58m−5.1%
6.SGNHo Chi Minh City2.41m+1.6%
7.HANHanoi2.21m+8.1%
8.DMKBangkok Don Mueang1.42m−8.3%
9.DPSDenpasar-Bali1.30m−3.5%
10.UPGMakassar0.95m−11.3%
YoY change vs seats
Airport capacity and year-on-year growth
0.95m → 3.56m seats + YoY − YoY

Source: OAG · hover chart or click a table row to cross-highlight

Where do Southeast Asian airlines fly internationally?

Southeast Asia capacity to the rest of Asia Pacific remains the largest international market with 16.4m seats, reducing by 1.3% (211,300 fewer seats) vs last year. International capacity within Southeast Asia, the next largest market with 6.5m seats, reduced by 2.8% (186,100 fewer seats) vs July 25.

Capacity to North America and Europe grew at the fastest rate increasing by 11.5% and 10.7% respectively, with 332,000 and 1.7m seats. Capacity to the Middle East declined by 3.3% vs July 25 (84,200 fewer seats).

International departing seats · July 2026

Capacity by destination region

27.5m
int'l seats
Source: OAG · July 2026 scheduled capacity

Southeast Asia aviation: frequently asked questions

Vietnam Airlines is the largest airline in Southeast Asia in July 2026 with 2.81 million seats, growing by just 0.1% vs July 2025. Vietjet is second with 2.47 million seats (−2.8%) and AirAsia third with 2.30 million seats (−21.9%), having shed 644,300 seats year on year. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) is the busiest airport in Southeast Asia in July 2026 with 3.56 million seats, up 0.1% vs July 2025. Jakarta (CGK) is second with 3.32 million seats (+3.2%) and Kuala Lumpur third with 3.15 million (−4.4%). Singapore, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are the only top-10 airports recording growth. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Indonesia is the largest capacity market in Southeast Asia in July 2026 with 10.93 million seats, up 0.3% vs July 2025. Vietnam is second with 7.36 million seats (+5.6%) — the fastest growth in the top 5. Thailand is third with 6.94 million seats (−3.0%). Malaysia and the Philippines both contracted. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Total Southeast Asian seat capacity in July 2026 is 50.4 million seats, down 1.2% vs July 2025. Domestic capacity fell 1.3% to 22.9 million seats and international capacity fell 1.0% to 27.5 million seats. Low cost carriers contracted 8.1% while mainline carriers grew 5.0%, with LCCs reducing market share from 47% to 44%. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.
Southeast Asian airline capacity in July 2026 is down 1.2% overall, driven primarily by LCC contraction. AirAsia shed 644,300 seats (−21.9%), Lion Air 594,500 seats (−20.9%) and Thai AirAsia 416,500 seats (−22.3%). Analysts attribute these declines to continued pressure from the Middle East crisis on fuel costs and the cost of living in the region. Capacity to the Middle East itself declined 3.3%. Mainline carriers including Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Batik Air have grown, partly absorbing the LCC reduction. Source: OAG scheduled capacity data, July 2026.


Download this month's SE Asia data

More resources from OAG

Airline Capacity By Region | march 2026

Where do International Flights From SOUTHEAST Asia Go?

  • Capacity to the rest of Asia Pacific remains the largest international market with 18.5m seats, an increase of 9.9% (1.7m more seats) vs last year.
  • International capacity within SE Asia, the next largest market with 7.2m seats, grew by 6.9% (460k more seats) vs Mar 2025.
  • Capacity to North America continues at the fastest rate this month, increasing by 13.8%.

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