Scoot vs AirAsia vs VietJet vs Cebu Pacific 2026: The Singapore 4-Way Budget Airline Comparison

The Singapore budget airline map, post-Jetstar Asia

Jetstar Asia ceased operations from Singapore on 31 July 2025. All 13 A320 aircraft were redeployed to the Jetstar Airways operation in Australia. This closed a mid-tier player that had served Singapore Southeast Asia routes for two decades and reshaped the low-cost carrier landscape at Changi.

In 2026, the Singapore budget airline market is a 4-way race:

• Scoot: Singapore Airlines group, primary Northeast Asia and long-haul operator.
• AirAsia: Malaysia AirAsia group, primary Southeast Asia route depth.
• VietJet Air: Vietnam's largest low-cost carrier, Vietnam and Thailand focus.
• Cebu Pacific: Philippines' largest carrier, filled much of the regional gap Jetstar Asia left.

Full-service alternatives on the same routes (Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Batik Air) are not covered here as they are not budget airlines. This guide focuses only on the four active LCC operators from Changi in 2026.

The article does not quote per-merchant ShopBack cashback rates because those move; the current rate for each airline is on its ShopBack page on ShopBack Singapore.

At-a-glance: Singapore budget airlines 2026

Airline	Route strength	Typical fare band (SIN return, econ)	Baggage add-on	Disruption handling
Scoot	Northeast Asia, long-haul	S$150 to S$780 short to long	S$25 to S$45 for 20kg	Best of four
AirAsia	Southeast Asia short-haul	S$70 to S$260	S$18 for 20kg	Mid
VietJet	Vietnam, Thailand	S$130 to S$300	S$20 for 20kg	Weakest
Cebu Pacific	Philippines	S$200 to S$420	S$22 for 20kg	Mid

Scoot: Northeast Asia and long-haul leader

Scoot is the Singapore Airlines group LCC subsidiary and the dominant budget carrier out of Changi on Northeast Asia and long-haul routes. Fleet is Boeing 787 (long-haul) and Airbus A320neo (regional). Home base at Changi T1 for most flights.

Route strengths from Singapore:

• Japan: Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, Sapporo (daily on all except Sapporo which is 4x weekly).
• Korea: Seoul Incheon daily.
• Taiwan: Taipei Taoyuan daily.
• Long-haul: Athens (5x weekly), Berlin (4x weekly), Sydney, Melbourne, Perth.
• Southeast Asia: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Phuket, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Vientiane.

Where Scoot wins: Northeast Asia and long-haul are essentially Scoot's territory. AirAsia and Cebu Pacific do not compete on Japan, Korea, or long-haul from Singapore. Disruption handling is the strongest of the four; Scoot ground services at Changi are equipped for rebooking and hotel provision under Singapore aviation regulations.

Where Scoot loses: pricing on short-haul Southeast Asia is 15 to 30% above AirAsia and VietJet on the same routes. On Bali specifically, AirAsia is often S$50 to S$80 cheaper return.

Fare tiers:

• Economy: base fare with 0kg checked, 7kg cabin.
• ScootPlus: wider seat, meal included, 20kg checked. S$150 to S$300 above economy.
• ScootBiz: business-class-adjacent (angled lie-flat on 787), full meal service, priority services. S$400 to S$700 above economy.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to flyscoot.com, complete booking. ShopBack cashback confirms in the cooling-off window.

AirAsia: Southeast Asia route depth and pricing anchor

AirAsia (parent Capital A Berhad, Malaysia) is the largest LCC network in Southeast Asia. From Singapore, the primary carrier is AirAsia Malaysia with connecting flights through Kuala Lumpur, plus direct Singapore departures on peninsular Southeast Asia routes. Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, and Philippines AirAsia contribute to the wider network.

Route strengths from Singapore:

• Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur (hourly), Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuching, Langkawi.
• Indonesia: Bali (Denpasar), Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Medan.
• Thailand: Bangkok Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi.
• Philippines: Manila via Philippines AirAsia.
• Cambodia and Vietnam: through KL connection.

Where AirAsia wins: cheapest short-haul Southeast Asia. Singapore to Kuala Lumpur promo fares as low as S$40 to S$60 one-way. Bali return S$120 to S$220 vs Scoot S$150 to S$260. Route network depth means multiple daily options on major routes.

Where AirAsia loses: no direct Northeast Asia from Singapore; Japan and Korea routes require KL transit. Disruption handling improved since 2023 but rebooking still takes 2 to 4 hours at counter. On-time performance historically weaker than Scoot.

Fare tiers:

• Value fare: base, 0kg checked, 7kg cabin.
• Value pack: value fare plus 20kg checked, seat selection, meal.
• Premium Flex: refundable, changes free, 20kg checked, priority services.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to airasia.com, book. ShopBack cashback confirmation stacks with AirAsia BIG Points and any card cashback.

VietJet Air: Vietnam and Thailand specialist

VietJet is Vietnam's largest LCC and the primary Singapore to Vietnam operator on price. Fleet is Airbus A320 and A321neo. Home base at Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat and Hanoi Noi Bai.

Route strengths from Singapore:

• Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City (2 to 3x daily), Hanoi (daily), Da Nang (4x weekly), Nha Trang (seasonal).
• Thailand: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (daily via Vietnam route).
• Expanding: Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh for beach travel.

Where VietJet wins: cheapest Vietnam return from Singapore, typically S$130 to S$220 vs Scoot at S$180 to S$280 and Malaysia Airlines full-service at S$280 to S$450. Daily rotations on Ho Chi Minh City give schedule flexibility.

Where VietJet loses: cabin service is minimal (no free meals or drinks in economy, water included). Disruption handling is the weakest of the four; expect delays without meal or hotel provision. Airport check-in queues at Changi can be slow at peak.

Fare tiers:

• Eco: base, 0kg checked, 7kg cabin.
• Deluxe: Eco plus 20kg checked, meal, seat selection.
• SkyBoss: priority services, extra baggage, business-class cabin food.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to vietjetair.com or via Trip.com. Complete booking. ShopBack cashback confirms in the cooling-off window.

Cebu Pacific: Philippines primary, post-Jetstar-Asia gap filler

Cebu Pacific is the largest airline in the Philippines and has been the primary beneficiary of Jetstar Asia's July 2025 shutdown on Singapore-Philippines routes. Fleet is Airbus A320, A321neo, and A330neo (for long-haul). Manila-based.

Route strengths from Singapore:

• Philippines: Manila (2 to 3x daily), Cebu (4 to 6x weekly), Kalibo for Boracay (seasonal, expanded post Jetstar Asia), Iloilo (weekly).
• Palawan: Puerto Princesa connection via Manila.

Where Cebu Pacific wins: cheapest Singapore-Philippines direct flights. Manila return S$200 to S$350 vs Scoot at S$250 to S$400 and Philippine Airlines full-service at S$350 to S$550. Cebu direct fares S$280 to S$420 (Scoot flies via Manila).

Where Cebu Pacific loses: cabin service is basic. On-time performance is mid-tier. Disruption handling is better at Manila home base than at Changi, which matters for return-leg delays.

Fare tiers:

• Go Basic: base, 0kg checked, 7kg cabin.
• Go Easy: 20kg checked, seat selection.
• Go Flexi: rebookable, 20kg, meal.
• Go Plus: extra legroom, priority services.

ShopBack layer: Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to cebupacificair.com, book. ShopBack cashback confirmation adds after cooling-off.

Route-by-route: which airline for which destination in 2026

Route from Singapore	Best budget option	Backup	Notes
Kuala Lumpur	AirAsia	Scoot	AirAsia hourly, S$40 to S$60 one-way
Bangkok	Scoot or AirAsia	VietJet (via HCM)	Scoot direct to BKK, AirAsia to DMK
Bali	AirAsia	Scoot	AirAsia S$120 to S$220, Scoot S$150 to S$260
Phuket	AirAsia	Scoot	AirAsia daily direct
Ho Chi Minh City	VietJet	Scoot	VietJet cheapest, S$130 to S$220
Hanoi	VietJet	Scoot	Same pattern
Manila	Cebu Pacific	Scoot	Cebu Pacific cheapest post-Jetstar Asia
Cebu	Cebu Pacific	Scoot (via Manila)	Direct only on Cebu Pacific
Boracay (Kalibo)	Cebu Pacific	AirAsia (via Manila)	Seasonal direct on Cebu Pacific
Tokyo	Scoot	Nothing budget-tier direct	AirAsia routes via KL, 4hr+ transit
Seoul Incheon	Scoot	Nothing budget-tier direct	Same
Taipei	Scoot	Nothing budget-tier direct	Same
Sydney or Melbourne	Scoot	Nothing budget-tier direct	Scoot 787 direct

The 2026 budget airline booking playbook

1. Set price alerts on Skyscanner or Google Flights 8 to 16 weeks ahead. Note the base fare on each of the four operators.
2. Book direct with the operating airline through ShopBack Singapore for the cashback layer plus best disruption handling. Trip.com is a valid alternative if fare is meaningfully lower, but rebooking on disruption is harder through a third party.
3. Add checked baggage at booking, not at airport. Airport add-on prices are 40 to 60% higher.
4. Pay with a card that has travel insurance included (UOB PRVI Miles, DBS Altitude, Citi PremierMiles) to cover LCC disruption gaps.
5. Layer ShopBack cashback at booking; also for hotels through Agoda, Booking.com, Trip.com and activities through Klook or KKday.

The current ShopBack cashback rate for each airline is on its ShopBack page.

Frequently asked questions

Which budget airlines fly from Singapore in 2026 after Jetstar Asia ceased operations?

Jetstar Asia ceased all Singapore-based operations on 31 July 2025 and its 13 aircraft have been redeployed to Jetstar Airways in Australia. The four active budget airlines from Singapore in 2026 are Scoot (Singapore Airlines group), AirAsia (Malaysia group with subsidiaries AirAsia Malaysia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines AirAsia), VietJet Air (Vietnam), and Cebu Pacific (Philippines). Cebu Pacific has expanded its Singapore capacity to fill the gap Jetstar Asia left, particularly on Southeast Asia regional routes. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to each airline's site, and ShopBack cashback confirms on top of the fare.

Is Scoot or AirAsia cheaper from Singapore in 2026?

It depends on the route. Scoot wins on Northeast Asia (Singapore to Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei) where AirAsia has fewer direct rotations and often routes via Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia wins on Southeast Asia short-haul (Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Bali, Phuket) with denser scheduling and more frequent promo fares. For Bali, AirAsia typically offers S$120 to S$220 return vs Scoot at S$150 to S$260. For Tokyo, Scoot is S$550 to S$780 return vs AirAsia (routing via KL) at S$600 to S$850 with longer transit. Compare route-by-route on Skyscanner or Google Flights, then book direct through ShopBack Singapore for the cashback layer.

Is VietJet reliable from Singapore in 2026?

VietJet is Vietnam's largest low-cost carrier and operates daily flights Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, plus expanding capacity to Da Nang and Nha Trang. On-time performance is roughly 75 to 85% on Singapore departures (comparable to AirAsia and better than pre-2023). Aircraft are Airbus A320 and A321neo. Cabin service is basic (no free meals or drinks on economy). Disruption handling is weaker than Scoot; airport rebooking desk is not always immediately staffed on delays. For Vietnam-only trips, VietJet is typically S$130 to S$220 return vs Scoot at S$180 to S$280. Book via VietJet direct or Trip.com through ShopBack Singapore for the cashback layer.

Does Cebu Pacific fly Singapore to Philippines direct in 2026?

Yes. Cebu Pacific operates daily Singapore to Manila flights on Airbus A320 and A321neo, plus 4 to 6 weekly Singapore to Cebu direct. After Jetstar Asia's July 2025 exit, Cebu Pacific expanded Singapore-Manila capacity by roughly 30% and added seasonal Singapore-Kalibo (for Boracay) rotations. Prices are typically S$200 to S$350 return to Manila and S$280 to S$420 return to Cebu. Philippine Airlines and Scoot also fly the route, but Cebu Pacific is usually the cheapest. Start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to Cebu Pacific, complete booking, and the ShopBack cashback confirmation adds in the standard cooling-off window.

Which budget airline has the best baggage policy from Singapore in 2026?

None of the four are generous on baggage; all charge for checked bags. Scoot's ScootBiz includes 30kg checked; ScootPlus 20kg; standard economy 0kg (buy in advance from S$25 for 20kg on short-haul, S$45 for 25kg on long-haul). AirAsia standard is 0kg; buy in advance from S$18 for 20kg. VietJet standard is 0kg; buy from S$20 for 20kg. Cebu Pacific standard is 0kg; buy from S$22 for 20kg. Cabin baggage is 7kg or 10kg across all four (varies by fare). Cheapest baggage upgrade on short-haul routes: AirAsia. On long-haul (Japan, Korea, Australia): Scoot. Add baggage during initial booking; airport add-on prices are 40 to 60% higher.

Is it worth paying for Scoot ScootPlus or ScootBiz vs economy?

For short-haul (under 5 hours: KL, Bangkok, Bali, Phuket), no. Scoot economy plus a-la-carte baggage and meal typically totals 60 to 75% of ScootPlus. For long-haul (Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Sydney, Melbourne, Athens), ScootPlus at S$150 to S$300 above economy is worth it if you value the wider seat, meal, and 20kg baggage combined; ScootBiz at S$400 to S$700 above economy adds a lie-flat-ish seat and priority services and is worth it only for red-eye or long-day flights. Book direct via flyscoot.com through ShopBack Singapore for the cashback layer on the fare.

How do disruption and delay policies compare across the 4 airlines?

Scoot handles disruptions best of the four: rebooking is standard at Changi ground services, meal vouchers for delays over 3 hours, hotel provision for overnight delays under Singapore Air Passenger regulations. AirAsia disruption handling has improved since 2023 but rebooking often requires 2 to 4 hours at the counter; compensation is fare-only refund with no automatic meal. VietJet has the weakest disruption handling; expect delays without meal or hotel provision. Cebu Pacific is comparable to AirAsia; better in Manila home base, weaker at Singapore Changi. For all four, credit card travel insurance (from a Singapore-issued card) is the safest disruption backstop.

Which routes did Jetstar Asia serve that are now covered by which airline in 2026?

Jetstar Asia's Singapore route network at closure included Bangkok, Manila, Bali, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Penang, and Kota Kinabalu. Post-closure, most routes are absorbed by: Bangkok (Scoot + AirAsia both increased frequency), Manila (Cebu Pacific took the majority), Bali (AirAsia dominant, Scoot secondary), Ho Chi Minh (VietJet primary), Phnom Penh (Scoot only direct), Yangon (Scoot 4x weekly), Penang (AirAsia daily), Kota Kinabalu (AirAsia daily). Some Jetstar Asia niche destinations (Broome, Perth Karratha) are no longer served direct from Singapore. Compare current routing on Skyscanner or Google Flights.

Which credit card is best for booking budget airlines from Singapore in 2026?

For pure cashback: DBS Live Fresh (5% online) or HSBC Revolution (4 miles per dollar on online). For miles: HSBC Revolution or Citi PremierMiles. For travel insurance coverage on the booking (which matters more on budget airlines because their built-in disruption compensation is weaker), UOB PRVI Miles, DBS Altitude, and Citi PremierMiles all include complimentary travel insurance when you charge the fare to the card. Regardless of card, start at ShopBack Singapore, click through to Scoot, AirAsia, VietJet, or Cebu Pacific, and the ShopBack cashback confirmation stacks with your card rewards.

How does ShopBack cashback stack across the 4 Singapore budget airlines in 2026?

All four airlines participate in ShopBack Singapore. Open the ShopBack app or Chrome extension, search for Scoot, AirAsia, VietJet, or Cebu Pacific, click through to the airline's booking page from ShopBack, and complete the booking in the same session. ShopBack tracks the click and pays cashback after the airline confirms the sale in the cooling-off window (typically 60 to 90 days for travel). The current cashback rate for each airline is displayed on that airline's ShopBack page. Cashback is separate from and stacks with your card rewards and any airline sign-up promo.