Official Airline Guide (OAG) released its Summer 2026 route analysis on 2 April showing 170 new international routes across the Asia Pacific region. The additions represent a 12 percent increase in seat capacity compared with the previous summer season.
Key new services include Qantas launching daily Sydney–Osaka flights from 1 June and Korean Air adding Seoul–Phuket service three times weekly from 15 May. Scoot will operate daily Singapore–Perth flights starting 20 June.
Low-cost carriers account for 65 percent of the new routes, with AirAsia, VietJet and Cebu Pacific expanding aggressively within Southeast Asia and to Australia. Average one-way fares on the new services start from US$89.
Airports in Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Sydney have all added dedicated check-in zones and increased immigration staffing to handle the additional passenger volumes expected during the June–August peak.
Travel agents report strong early bookings for the new routes, particularly from Australian travellers seeking direct access to Japanese cherry blossom destinations and Korean cultural experiences.
Passengers are advised to book at least six weeks in advance for peak July and August departures as load factors on the new services are already exceeding 85 percent according to airline forecasts.
The region’s aviation recovery is now considered complete, with total international seat capacity projected to surpass 2019 levels by September 2026.