Intra-ASEAN Air Travel Increases from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2024
Intra-ASEAN air travel plays a major role in regional tourism growth, climbing from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2024 amidst geopolitical uncertainties.
Intra-ASEAN Air Travel Increases from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2024
Travel within ASEAN countries accounts for the largest share of international arrivals into the region, growing from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2024. With the ever-increasing uncertainty of geopolitics and the economic outlook, this dependence on regional travel may be Southeast Asia’s ace card, insulating it from potential longer-haul market disruptions.
In Summer 2025, Malaysia Leads with 19.3 Million Scheduled Seats
Like everywhere, intra-ASEAN seat capacity was impacted during the pandemic, and while the numbers are recovering steadily, they have not reached 2019 levels, indicating there is still room for growth.
In Summer 2025, there were 46 million scheduled seats available for travel between the ASEAN countries. Although this is a 7% increase compared to Summer 2024, it remains 6% below Summer 2019’s level of 50 million seats.
For many years, Singapore was the center of the Southeast Asian aviation sector, with Changi Airport serving as a major hub for international long-haul travel from neighboring countries. Looking at intra-regional capacity in Summer 2025, Malaysia leads with 19.3 million scheduled seats to other Southeast Asian countries (5.5% behind Summer 2019 levels). And Singapore follows closely with 19 million seats (10% below Summer 2019 levels).
Rapid Growth from Vietnam
Vietnam is rapidly expanding its aviation footprint, recording the fastest growth in seat capacity to other Southeast Asian countries among all ASEAN members. Seat capacity from Vietnam is up by 21.8% in Summer 2025 compared to Summer 2024, and a strong 8.5% ahead of Summer 2019.
In particular, total seat capacity between Vietnam and Indonesia, Philippines, and Laos is seeing significant growth compared to 2019. Vietnam has 51 route connections to other Southeast Asian destinations as of Summer 2025, up from 45 in 2019. Aside from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, secondary cities Danang and Phu Quoc have seen more routes added in 2025, with five and three new routes added, respectively.
New Intra-ASEAN Routes
Looking at capacity growth for Summer 2025 versus Summer 2024 shows that in that secondary city market, growth in capacity within Southeast Asia has been highest, at 18%, suggesting growing travel activity between these cities. Airlines in the region have an opportunity to continue growth through expanding intra-ASEAN routes and seat capacity.
Source: OAG
