Thailand is Southeast Asia's second largest aviation market in September

Indonesia remains the largest Southeast Asian aviation market with 10.8 million scheduled seats, an increase of 7.3%.

Thailand recorded a 0.2% year-on-year decline in capacity to 6.6 million scheduled seats, while Vietnam slipped to third with 6.4 million, despite a 9.2% year-on-year increase.

A passenger at the departure terminal of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on July 25, 2016. Photo by AFP

The OAG report said September capacity is scheduled to reduce in Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia with 321,900, 152,500 and 50,500 fewer seats respectively.

Overall capacity in the Southeast Asian market is set to increase by 2% compared to September last year to 48 million seats.

AirAsia is Southeast Asia's largest airline in September, with 2.38 million seats despite a 15.7% decline from last year. Vietnam Airlines ranked second with 2.25 million seats, up 10.7%, followed by Lion Air with 2.23 million seats, down 9.3%.

In previous months, a series of Thai airlines cut summer flights to several tourism hubs due to rising operating costs, making Thailand lose its position as Southeast Asia's second largest aviation market by seat capacity to Vietnam. The country served 7.2 million seats in August and 6.9 million in July while Vietnam served 7.3 million and 7.4 million, respectively.

Thailand's largest airline announced it will operate a 66-route network under its winter 2026/27 timetable from Oct. 25, 2026, to March 27, 2027 to serve Thailand's peak tourism season.

In response to strong travel demand, the airline will increase flight frequencies on several key international routes, including Paris, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi.