I once booked a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bali for less than my airport coffee cost. That was seven years ago, and somehow the fares across Asia have only gotten more competitive since. The budget airline scene here moves fast. Carriers launch new routes, absorb rivals, rebrand entirely, and undercut each other with fare wars that make flying around this part of the world absurdly cheap if you know where to look.
For this list, I compared hundreds of routes across the region to find the 12 cheapest airlines in Asia for 2026. A lot has changed since last year. India’s biggest carrier is suddenly flying to London, a Japanese Dreamliner airline is expanding at pace, and South Korea’s entire budget market is being reshuffled by the biggest airline merger in the country’s history. Whether you’re chasing $10 domestic hops in Vietnam or $30 flights between Southeast Asian capitals, there’s something here for every kind of trip!
#1 tip to find cheap flights to Asia
Want alerts on cheap flights across Asia straight to your inbox? Sign up for Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights), a membership based service that finds huge discounts, mistake fares, and points and miles deals. Last year they helped me snag a return flight from Bangkok to Tokyo for under $200 on Scoot, about 45% less than the going rate. All you have to do is enter your home airport and where you want to go, and from there, they’ll send you mistake fares and other ridiculously cheap flight deals.
There’s a free and a premium version. The free one has pretty much everything you’ll need, though if you’re like me and travel a lot, it’s worth upgrading to the paid version for $49 per year. I recommend signing up for the free trial to try it for yourself. And if you like it, use my code JON25 for 25% off your membership!

1. 🇲🇾 AirAsia
- 🏠 Base: Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2)
- 💰 Typical Fares: From $30 one way across Southeast Asia; promo sales from $1 base fares
- ✈️ Fleet: Airbus A320s, A321neos, A330s
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag included; checked bags from around $10
- 🏆 Loyalty: AirAsia Rewards – earn points on flights, hotels, and food delivery via the MOVE app
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Turn on MOVE app sale alerts and save your payment details. The best fares vanish in minutes.
AirAsia is the airline I always check first when planning a trip around Southeast Asia. I’ve flown it more times than I can count, including a KL to Bangkok leg that cost me under $25 one way – less than the pad thai I had when I landed! With over 166 destinations across 25 countries, no other budget carrier in the region gives you this many options at these prices.
You pay for the seat and nothing else, which is exactly how I like it when I’m travelling light between cities. Checked bags, meals, and seat selection are all optional add ons, so a carry on only hop between KL and Bali can stay absurdly cheap. If you do need extras, grab the Value Pack bundle at checkout rather than adding things separately. It’s almost always cheaper that way.
AirAsia is also in the middle of a huge 2026 shakeup. All seven of its airlines have been merged into a single entity, which already makes booking multi leg trips across different countries much smoother. They’re launching a KL to London Gatwick route via Bahrain in June with promo fares from Australia starting at $365 return, and they’ve ordered up to 150 smaller Airbus A220 jets to start flying into secondary cities. A new daily Kaohsiung to Osaka route also kicks off in June, which is a great shortcut between Taiwan and Japan that didn’t exist before.
- You may also like: 13 Jaw-Dropping Destinations in Asia to Visit This Year
- Plan your trip: Where to Eat in Southeast Asia (13 Cities Every Food Lover Must Visit)

2. 🇻🇳 VietJet Air
- 🏠 Base: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic from $25 one way; international from $40; zero-đồng base fare promos run almost weekly
- ✈️ Fleet: Airbus A320s, A321neos, A330s
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag on Eco; no checked bag unless you book Deluxe (20kg) or SkyBoss (30kg)
- 🏆 Loyalty: Vietjet SkyJoy – redeem points for tickets at up to 70% off
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Flash sales run daily noon–2pm Vietnam time with zero-đồng base fares. Set an alarm if you want to grab a deal!
VietJet Air is how I’ve booked most of my flights within Vietnam, and I’ve rarely paid more than $30 between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Their zero-đồng promotions mean you pay only taxes and airport fees, which on a domestic route can work out under $10 all in. No other Asian carrier runs sales this aggressively, which is why they carried 28.2 million passengers last year across 254 routes.
The Eco fare gives you a seat and a 7kg cabin bag, full stop. They’re strict about weighing carry ons at the gate, so pack light or pre-purchase checked baggage online where it’s around $9 for 20kg. On longer flights to Bangkok, Seoul, or Sydney, the Deluxe fare bundles 20kg checked luggage and a meal for not much more than adding them separately.
VietJet is expanding at a pace that’s hard to keep up with in 2026. They took delivery of 22 aircraft in a single month at the end of 2025 and have since ordered another 44 A320neo jets. New routes to Beijing, Manila, and several Indian cities are already flying, and Vietnam’s brand new Long Thanh International Airport opens mid-2026 as a second major hub near Ho Chi Minh City. If you’re planning any travel in or through Vietnam this year, VietJet should be your first search.
- Check out my guide: 11 Best Airlines to Fly to Vietnam in 2026 (With Routes + Points Tips)
- Need inspiration? Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam to Visit (North to South Guide)

3. 🇵🇭 Cebu Pacific
- 🏠 Base: Manila (MNL)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic from $15 one way; international from $40; piso sale base fares from ₱1
- ✈️ Fleet: Airbus A320s, A320neos, A330neos, ATR 72-600s
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag on all fares; checked bags only with GO Easy or GO Flexi bundles (20kg)
- 🏆 Loyalty: Go Rewards – earn points on flights and at 2,000+ retail stores across the Philippines
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Before a piso sale, check the promo page for seat counts per route. Focus on routes with more discounted seats.
Cebu Pacific is the airline that made flying affordable in the Philippines, and their legendary piso sales are still one of the best deals in Asian aviation. I’ve used them to hop between Manila, Cebu, and Palawan for less than the cost of a ferry, and their international fares to Japan, Korea, and Australia stay competitive outside of sale periods too. They’re celebrating 30 years this year with a target of 30 million passengers, so the network is bigger than ever.
The GO Basic fare is bare bones in the best way: you get a seat and a 7kg carry on, and that’s it. If you need checked luggage, jump straight to GO Easy rather than adding bags separately because it works out cheaper with 20kg included. Cebu Pacific also deploys A330neo widebody jets on popular domestic routes like Manila to Cebu and Iloilo, which means more seats and a noticeably more comfortable cabin on what’s only a one-hour flight.
For 2026, the big addition is a direct Manila to Riyadh route launching March 1, opening up a major corridor for the large Filipino community in Saudi Arabia. They’re also restoring pre-pandemic China routes after the Philippines relaxed visa rules for Chinese visitors. Plus, they’re taking delivery of seven new aircraft including a special 30th-anniversary A321neo arriving from Hamburg in June.
- Read next: I Ranked the 12 Best Airlines Flying to the Philippines in 2026
- You may also like: Cebu Philippines Travel Guide (Whale Sharks, Canyoneering, + Beaches)

4. 🇨🇳 Spring Airlines
- 🏠 Base: Shanghai (Hongqiao and Pudong)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic China from ¥99 (about $14); Shanghai to Bangkok from ¥370 (about $52)
- ✈️ Fleet: All-Airbus A320 family (134 aircraft)
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag, but backpack-sized only (20×30×40cm). International free allowance is just 15kg total. 🏆
- Loyalty: SpringPass – earn points on flights, redeem for tickets and lounge access
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Book only at ch.com. Spring bypasses third-party platforms, so their site almost always has the lowest price.
Spring Airlines is the airline most travel blogs completely ignore. It’s China’s largest low cost carrier and the fares are some of the lowest in all of Asia. I flew Shanghai to Osaka for about $55 on a clean, modern A320 that departed right on time, and that punctuality isn’t a fluke. Spring has ranked first for on-time performance among all mainland Chinese airlines for seven consecutive years.
Spring is the most stripped-down airline on this entire list. The seats don’t recline, there are no power outlets or entertainment screens, and you won’t even get free water. The cabin bag allowance is also tiny. Your bag has to be basically backpack-sized, and they measure it at check in. If you’re carrying a standard roller suitcase, you’re checking it, so buy your baggage online beforehand because airport counter fees are significantly higher.
✈️ My #1 Hack for Cheap 2026 Flights:
It’s January, so flight prices are climbing fast—but you don't have to pay them. I’m currently seeing roundtrips to Europe for under $300 (deals you won’t find on Google Flights).
Step 1: Join Going.com's Free Plan here. It takes 10 seconds and requires no credit card.
Step 2: If you're doing a big trip this year, grab the 14-day free trial of Premium. You can even use my code JON25 for 25% off.
Seriously, this is the single best money-saving tool I’ve used in 8+ years.
👉 Send me cheap 2026 flightsSpring’s 2026 story is about international growth. Japan routes have more than doubled in capacity over the past year, now covering Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Okinawa, and Saga. New Southeast Asian routes to Penang and expanded service to Bangkok and Chiang Mai make it a real option for regional budget travel. If you’re transiting through or travelling within China, Spring should be on your radar alongside the big three state carriers – at a fraction of the cost.
- More tips & news: Top 10 Airlines to Fly to China This Year

5. 🇸🇬 Scoot
- 🏠 Base: Singapore Changi (SIN)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Singapore to Bangkok from SGD 70 (about $52); Singapore to Tokyo from SGD 180 (about $135)
- ✈️ Fleet: Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A320/A321neos, Embraer E190-E2s
- 🧳 Baggage: 10kg cabin bag included (more than most LCCs); no checked bag on base Economy
- 🏆 Loyalty: KrisFlyer (Singapore Airlines’ program) – earn miles redeemable across the entire SIA Group
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Every cheap Scoot flight earns KrisFlyer miles toward Singapore Airlines redemptions. Most people miss this!
Scoot occupies a niche no other budget carrier in Asia fills. It can fly you from Singapore to Perth on a 787 Dreamliner for under $200, or to a tiny Indonesian island on an Embraer regional jet for under $80. That range is what makes it so useful, not just cheap. I’ve used Scoot for everything from weekend Bangkok hops to a longer haul to Athens. The Dreamliner cabin makes 10+ hour flights far more bearable than you’d expect at budget prices.
The 10kg cabin bag allowance is three kilos more than almost every other budget carrier on this list, which in practice means you can pack for a week without checking a bag. If you do need checked luggage, buy it online because airport counter prices are roughly double. ScootPlus is also worth a look on long haul. You’ll get leather seats, 38 inches of legroom, a meal, and 30kg checked for a fraction of what Singapore Airlines charges in premium economy.
Scoot’s 2026 expansion is heavily Japan-focused. Daily flights to Tokyo Haneda launched in March on the Dreamliner (which is excellent because Haneda is far more central than Narita). They’ve added Okinawa and expanded to four new Indonesian cities including Labuan Bajo, right next to Komodo National Park. With Jetstar Asia now shut down, Scoot has less competition out of Changi than ever, and they’re clearly making the most of it.
- Read next: 12 Best Airlines to Fly to Singapore This Year
- You may also like: These Are the Most Beautiful Places in Singapore to Visit in 2026

6. 🇮🇳 IndiGo
- 🏠 Base: Delhi (DEL), with major hubs at Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata
- 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic from about $15 one way; Southeast Asia from about $50
- ✈️ Fleet: 430+ aircraft – A320neos, A321neos, A321XLRs, ATR 72-600s, plus leased 787s
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag plus 3kg personal item; 15kg checked domestic, 20–30kg international
- 🏆 Loyalty: IndiGo BluChip – earn points on every flight, redeem with no blackout dates
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Use the fare calendar at goindigo.in. It shows the cheapest day to fly each route at a glance.
IndiGo is the airline that makes flying around India almost absurdly affordable. With a 64% domestic market share and over 2,200 daily flights, it connects more than 90 Indian cities at fares that regularly sit around $15 to $25 one way. I’ve seen Delhi to Goa for under $20 and Mumbai to Bangalore for even less. It stays so cheap through the classic unbundled model: your base fare gets you a seat, a cabin bag, and not much else. Checked bags, food, and seat selection are all paid extras.
That stripped back approach works well in India because the network is so dense there’s almost always another flight within the hour. The 3kg personal item on top of your 7kg cabin bag is a nice touch most budget carriers don’t offer. For longer trips I’d suggest prebooking checked baggage online, because airport counter prices are significantly higher.
The big story for 2026 is IndiGo going long haul. They took delivery of India’s first A321XLR in January and launched nonstop flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens, with Istanbul and Bali next. They’re also flying wet leased 787s to London, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen, and have 60 Airbus A350s on order from 2027. If you’re planning a trip around India, this is where you start.
- Check this out: I Ranked India’s 7 Cheapest Airlines After Flying Them All (2026)
- See why I love this place: 12 Hidden Gems in South India You Need to See

7. 🇯🇵 Peach Aviation
- 🏠 Base: Osaka Kansai (KIX), with hubs at Tokyo Narita, Naha, and Sapporo
- 💰 Typical Fares: Domestic from about ¥3,000 (about $20); Seoul/Taipei from about ¥5,680 (about $40)
- ✈️ Fleet: Airbus A320ceos, A320neos, A321LRs (36 aircraft)
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg cabin bag on Simple Peach; no free checked bag unless you upgrade to Value or Prime
- 🏆 Loyalty: Peach Points – earn on every booking, redeem toward future flights and add ons
- 🧠 Pro Tip: Peach fares barely move close to departure. When ANA and JAL double in price for Golden Week or Obon, Peach stays flat.
Peach Aviation is the best budget airline for getting around Japan. Owned by ANA, it covers 25 domestic routes connecting Osaka, Tokyo, Sapporo, Okinawa, and smaller cities that full service carriers charge a fortune to reach. I’ve flown Osaka to Sapporo for under ¥5,000 (about $35) on a national holiday when ANA wanted ¥40,000+ for the same route. Fares stay low because Simple Peach strips everything out: no checked bag, no seat selection, no changes.
That model works brilliantly for domestic hops where you just need a backpack and a boarding pass. If you need a checked bag, book Value Peach upfront because adding bags at the counter costs significantly more. The A321LR is also worth mentioning. Peach was the first Japanese airline to fly it, and the extra legroom plus USB charging at every seat make a real difference on longer routes like Osaka to Singapore.
For 2026, Peach is pushing harder internationally. They’ve scaled the Osaka to Seoul Gimpo route to four daily flights, giving you up to eight daily roundtrips to Seoul when combined with Incheon. New summer routes to Kushiro and Memanbetsu in eastern Hokkaido launch in July. They’ve also ordered A321XLRs which will eventually open up more of Southeast Asia and Oceania. For now, Peach is the go to for cheap flights within Japan and short hops to Korea, Taiwan, and Shanghai.
- Planning a visit? 5 Secret Tips to Find Cheap Flights to Japan (From the USA)
- Fly in style: Best Airlines for Premium Business Class to Japan

8. 🇯🇵 ZIPAIR
- 🏠 Base: Tokyo Narita (NRT)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Tokyo to LA from about $255 one way; Tokyo to Seoul from about ¥8,000 (about $55); Tokyo to Bangkok from about ¥18,000 (about $125)
- ✈️ Fleet: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners (10 aircraft)
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg carry on (two bags); no free checked bag on any fare
- 🏆 Loyalty: ZIPAIR Points – earn on flights, redeem toward tickets and add ons
- 🧠 Pro Tip: The lie flat seat is the real hack. A fully flat bed to LA for around $900 is a fraction of what JAL or ANA charge for business class.
ZIPAIR is Japan Airlines’ low cost subsidiary, and it does something no other budget carrier in Asia does: long haul Dreamliner flights with an optional lie flat business class seat. Tokyo to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Houston, Honolulu, Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, and Manila are all on the network. Economy fares to the US West Coast start around $255 one way, and the flat beds go from around $900, roughly a third of what JAL charges for business.
The catch is that absolutely nothing is included beyond your seat and free Wi-Fi. No food, no checked bag, no blanket, no water. You pay for everything à la carte, or buy a service package that bundles meals and baggage for around $100. I’d recommend bringing your own food for the longer flights and spending the savings on the flat bed if your budget allows. Even in economy, the Dreamliner cabin pressure and bigger windows make a real difference on 10 hour flights.
ZIPAIR’s 2026 expansion is all about frequency. Seoul is up to 11 weekly flights, LA goes to 10 weekly during summer, and Honolulu jumps to daily in July and August. The headline move is charter flights to Orlando starting February, the first ever nonstop between Tokyo and Florida, run in partnership with Disney. No fuel surcharges on any route is another perk that keeps total prices low.
- Read next: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Japan to Visit (2026 Guide)
- You may also like: 10 BEST Airlines to Fly to Tokyo in 2026

9. 🇰🇷 T’way Air (Trinity Airways)
- 🏠 Base: Seoul Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Seoul to Tokyo/Osaka from about $60 one way; Seoul to Frankfurt from about $350
- ✈️ Fleet: 45 aircraft – Boeing 737-800s, 737 MAX 8s, Airbus A330s, Boeing 777-300ERs
- 🧳 Baggage: 10kg carry on; 15kg checked on most international fares (event fares get none)
- 🏆 Loyalty: T’way Membership – earn points on flights, redeem for discounts and baggage
- 🧠 Pro Tip: The Seoul to Frankfurt route runs 70% cheaper than Korean Air. If you’re connecting through Seoul to Europe, this is the budget hack most people don’t know about.
T’way Air is South Korea’s most interesting budget airline right now, and by the time you read this it may already have a new name. The airline is rebranding to Trinity Airways in 2026 after being acquired by Daemyung Sono Group, South Korea’s largest resort operator. The plan is to evolve from a regional LCC into a hybrid carrier that pairs cheap flights with bundled hotel packages across 18 resorts. It’s an unusual model, and I think it could work well for leisure travelers.
T’way belongs on a cheapest airlines list because it now flies long haul to Europe and North America at prices that undercut legacy carriers by huge margins. Seoul to Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Vancouver are all on the network, using A330 widebodies. The 10kg carry on is generous for a budget carrier, and checked bags are included on most fares except the rock bottom event specials.
The 2026 story is the fleet upgrade. Five new A330neos arrive this year from Avolon, replacing older widebodies and opening the door to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Twenty 737 MAX 8s are coming through 2027 for short haul. The Korean Air and Asiana merger has been a gift: regulatory concessions handed T’way leased aircraft and prime European route slots that a Korean LCC would never have gotten otherwise.
- For more reading: After 14 Trips, I’ve Found the Best Airlines to Fly to South Korea

10. 🇰🇷 Jeju Air
- 🏠 Base: Seoul Incheon (ICN), Gimpo (GMP), and Jeju (CJU)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Seoul to Osaka from $59 one way, Seoul to Tokyo from $83, Seoul to Bangkok from around $130
- ✈️ Fleet: 47 aircraft – Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s
- 🧳 Baggage: 10kg carry on; checked bags included with Fly Bag and Fly Bag+ fares, otherwise from around $15
- 🏆 Loyalty: J Point (formerly Refresh Point), earn 5% back on every fare, transferable to friends and family
- 🧠 Pro Tip: The Biz Lite cabin on select routes gives you a 2×2 layout with 41 inches of legroom for barely more than a standard economy seat. If you spot it available, grab it.
South Korea’s first and largest budget airline has quietly built one of the best short haul networks in Northeast Asia. I’ve used Jeju Air a bunch of times for Seoul to Japan hops, and the fares consistently undercut full service carriers by a solid margin. They fly 73 routes covering Japan, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Guam, and Laos, all on Boeing 737s that feel newer and better maintained than you’d expect at these prices.
The way they keep costs low is straightforward. Jeju Air runs a single aircraft type (the 737-800, with newer 737 MAX 8s now joining), which massively simplifies training and maintenance. Their base fare strips everything back, but grab the PLUS bundle if you’re checking a bag because buying extras individually at the airport will cost you more. One thing I love is that the Biz Lite cabin on certain routes gives you a 2×2 layout with 41 inches of legroom for not much more than a standard seat.
For 2026, Jeju Air is leaning hard into China and Southeast Asia as those markets rebound. They added routes to Dalat, Bohol, and Beijing in late 2025, and more Chinese cities are expected this year as visa free travel between Korea and China drives demand. They’re also a founding member of Value Alliance, the pan Asian LCC alliance that includes Scoot and Cebu Pacific, which means you can book multi carrier itineraries across the region through a single platform.

11. 🇭🇰 HK Express
- 🏠 Base: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
- 💰 Typical Fares: Hong Kong to Tokyo from HK$380 (~$49) one way, Hong Kong to Seoul from around $55, Hong Kong to Bangkok from around $45
- ✈️ Fleet: 42 aircraft – Airbus A320s, A320neos, A321s, and A321neos
- 🧳 Baggage: One small personal item free on all fares; cabin bag and checked bags only included on Lite, Essential, and Max tiers
- 🏆 Loyalty: Earns Asia Miles through Cathay membership (1 mile per HK$6 spent), redeemable from 1,000 miles one way
- 🧠 Pro Tip: HK Express runs HK$88 (~$11) promo fares to new destinations almost every time they launch a route. Follow their socials and you’ll catch these within the first few hours before they sell out.
Being owned by Cathay Pacific gives HK Express something most budget airlines lack: the operational backing of a world class carrier without the world class price tag. I’ve found it consistently reliable for short hops out of Hong Kong, and the on time performance is noticeably better than a lot of other LCCs in the region. They now serve 40 destinations across nine countries, with over 70% of their network concentrated in Northeast Asia.
The Ultra Lite fare is where the real savings are, but it comes with trade offs. You only get a small personal item under the seat, so no overhead bin bag unless you pay up. If you’re doing anything beyond a weekend with a backpack, the Essential tier is better value because it bundles a cabin bag and 20kg checked luggage together. The fleet is all Airbus A320 family, which keeps things simple and efficient, and the newer A321neos have 236 seats so they can price aggressively on popular routes.
HK Express has been on an expansion tear lately, adding 16 new routes in the past year alone. In 2025 they launched Cheongju, Daegu, Nha Trang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur Subang, Changzhou, and Guiyang, with more Chinese mainland cities expected in 2026. They’re also the only airline connecting Hong Kong to all three major Okinawa airports, which is a great option if you’re planning a Japanese island trip.
- Read next: The 10 BEST Airlines to Hong Kong
- You may also like: Cathay Pacific Business Class Review (My Ultimate Guide in 2026)

12. 🇲🇾 Batik Air
- 🏠 Base: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Subang (SZB), plus Jakarta (CGK) for Batik Air Indonesia
- 💰 Typical Fares: KL to Bangkok from around RM131 (~$30) one way, KL to Singapore from around $25, KL to Bali from around $45
- ✈️ Fleet: 53 aircraft (Malaysia) – Boeing 737-800s, 737 MAX 8s, and Airbus A330-300s, with 10 more joining in 2026
- 🧳 Baggage: 7kg carry on included; 20kg checked bag included on most fares except Super Saver (which gets nothing)
- 🏆 Loyalty: Batik Air Club – 1 point per MYR 1.00 spent on base fares, redeemable across all Lion Air Group carriers
- 🧠 Pro Tip: The Super Saver fare looks tempting but includes zero checked baggage. The Economy Value fare costs only slightly more and bundles 20kg checked, which makes it better value almost every time.
Batik Air is the one on this list that most people haven’t heard of, and that’s exactly why fares stay so low. Formerly known as Malindo Air, it rebranded in 2022 and now operates as a full service carrier under the Lion Air Group. That means you get complimentary meals, personal entertainment screens, and a checked bag on most fares, all at prices that regularly undercut the big name budget airlines flying the same routes. I’ve taken it between KL and Bangkok a few times and the experience punches well above what you’d expect for the price.
The network is massive. Batik Air Malaysia alone serves 65 destinations across 20 countries, and when you factor in Batik Air Indonesia’s domestic and international routes, the combined footprint covers everything from Perth to Tashkent. The Subang hub is a nice alternative to the bigger KLIA terminal too, especially if you’re based in central KL, because it’s closer to the city and far less chaotic during peak travel periods.
In 2026, Batik Air Malaysia is adding 10 aircraft to bring the fleet to 63, and they’ve already launched new routes from Kota Kinabalu to Singapore and Perth to Penang. The Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism push is driving a lot of this expansion, with more connections to Chinese mainland cities and deeper coverage of Borneo. If you’re building a multi stop trip through Malaysia and Southeast Asia on a budget, Batik Air is one of the smartest options going.


Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.