Scoot (TR, Singapore Changi) is planning to expand its presence at Kuala Lumpur Subang, chief executive Leslie Thng said in an interview with New Straits Times, a Malaysian newspaper. The low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Group is keen to add more flights, subject to approval from the Malaysian government, despite the prevalent infrastructure constraints and [the recent pullouts](Malaysia's Firefly to move B737s from Subang to new KUL base) of AirAsia and jet operations of Firefly.
"It's a flight that is always welcomed by our passengers. The demand for the flight from Subang Airport to Singapore has been fantastic, and we're happy with the performance," Thng said. "Scoot is interested, if the authorities allow us to operate a lot more flights from Subang."
ch-aviation schedules data show that Scoot operates daily flights between Singapore Changi and Subang on board its A320 aircraft. From its hub, it also operates flights to ten other Malaysian destinations, including nearby Kuala Lumpur International, Penang, and Langkawi.
Thng said Scoot's dual presence at both airports serving the Kuala Lumpur agglomeration offers passengers flexibility in choosing their departure or arrival point. Subang is closer to the central business district, making it more convenient for some travellers.
Scoot's interest in expanding at Subang comes as the carrier pursues wider growth across Asia. The airline recently announced new routes to Chiang Rai, Okinawa Naha, and Tokyo Haneda, starting progressively from December 2025, alongside frequency increases to destinations including Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Ipoh, Chiang Mai, Taipei Taoyuan, and Sapporo Chitose.
Infrastructure contraints
In late August, Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke said that infrastructure limitations, including aircraft bays, limited operating hours, and caps on jet frequencies, have long restricted operations at Subang. Current regulations restrict flights between 0600L and 2200L, with no overnight operations permitted due to the airport's location in a residential area.
"The current infrastructure cannot cope with too many flights. That is why some airlines might find it difficult to operate in such an environment," he said.
The government is pursuing the MYR3.7 billion (USD880 million) Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP), which aims to transform the facility into an aviation hub and raise annual capacity from 1.5 million passengers to eight million by 2030. The plan includes terminal upgrades and reconfiguring aircraft parking stands to accommodate six narrowbody jets and five turboprops.
Subang resumed scheduled jet operations in August 2024 after a 26-year hiatus. AirAsia, Firefly, TransNusa, Batik Air Malaysia, and Scoot were the first carriers to launch flights, though only Batik Air Malaysia, HK Express, TransNusa, and Scoot continue to operate jets there. Firefly has since consolidated its B737-800 operations at Kuala Lumpur but maintains ATR72-500 turboprop flights there.
