Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot will introduce Australia’s first links to Indonesia’s Belitung and Pontianak this autumn, Time Out Sydney reported on 22 April 2026. Twice-weekly flights to Belitung via Singapore begin 3 May, while three-weekly services to Pontianak start 29 June, with one-way fares from A$233. The new routes open two emerging leisure markets but also offer business-mobility benefits: Pontianak sits astride West Kalimantan’s bauxite and timber industries, while Belitung has nascent tech-park developments supported by Indonesia’s ‘Digital Nomad Islands’ program. For Australian firms with footprints in Indonesia, the services cut door-to-door travel times by up to six hours compared with current Jakarta connections. They also provide new stop-over opportunities in Singapore for meetings at regional HQs. Travel buyers should monitor Scoot’s through-fares; the carrier often codeshares with Singapore Airlines, allowing corporate travellers to combine low-cost segments with full-service legs in a single PNR. However, strict cabin-baggage limits and buy-on-board policies mean companies may need to authorise ancillary spending. The move illustrates secondary-city connectivity trends across ASEAN and could encourage Australian airports to court more niche Southeast Asian links, further diversifying mobility options beyond the traditional Bali and Jakarta gateways.
Source: Time Out Sydney
