Scoot Airlines Takes Off to Medan: Daily Flights from Singapore to North Sumatra Boost Travel and Tourism

On 1 February 2026, Scoot Airlines officially inaugurated a new daily air service connecting Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) with Kualanamu International Airport (Medan, KNO). This milestone flight marks a major step in enhancing connectivity between two vibrant cities in Southeast Asia. As a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Scoot launched this route using an Airbus A320‑family aircraft, with a frequency of seven flights per week. The introduction of this new service further strengthens regional connectivity, expands travel options, and delivers measurable social and economic benefits for Singapore and Medan alike.

Route Details: Aircraft, Frequency and Operational Facts

The Scoot Singapore (SIN) to Medan (KNO) route was scheduled to begin operation on 1 February 2026, based on Scoot’s official network expansion plan released in October 2025. This new route is operated using the Airbus A320 family aircraft, a narrow‑body jet widely used across short‑haul international flight markets in Asia Pacific.

• Airline Name: Scoot Airlines
• Departure Airport: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
• Arrival Airport: Kualanamu International Airport (Medan, KNO)
• Aircraft: Airbus A320 family
• Flight Frequency: 7 weekly flights (one per day)
• Commencement Date: 1 February 2026
• Duration: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes (typical flight time between Singapore and Medan)

Given the competitive aviation environment on this route, daily frequency positions Scoot to serve both leisure and business travellers effectively. The choice of the Airbus A320 reflects operational flexibility and cost‑efficiency for high‑frequency short‑haul flights across regional markets.

Passenger Connectivity and Regional Tourism Impacts

The inauguration of this new route represents a significant upgrade in aviation connectivity between Singapore and the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. Medan, as the capital of North Sumatra, serves as a gateway to key regional attractions such as Lake Toba, cultural heritage sites, and natural landscapes. Prior to this service launch, travellers relied on limited indirect connections or higher‑cost alternatives.

Scoot’s new daily flights provide affordable and direct access for international tourists, significantly reducing travel barriers for short‑stay leisure trips. This expanded air link enables more Singapore residents, expatriates, and transit passengers to explore Medan’s cultural richness, culinary diversity, and proximity to nature attractions.

The enhanced accessibility is expected to increase inbound tourism to Medan. Regional tourism stakeholders have noted that improved connectivity often stimulates demand for hotel stays, attractions, tours, and related services. In turn, this contributes to extended visitor stays and a rise in local spending across tourism value chains.

In Singapore, the strengthened air link provides residents and visitors with low‑cost travel options, expanding short‑haul leisure travel choices and reinforcing Singapore’s position as a transit hub for Southeast Asian travel. The daily frequency makes Singapore an appealing connection point for passengers travelling onward to other destinations in Indonesia and beyond.

Economic Impacts of the SIN–KNO Air Link

Beyond tourism, the launch of this new Scoot route carries broader economic significance for both Singapore and North Sumatra. Direct flight services often create spillover effects that support cross‑border trade, foreign investment, and business travel.

In Medan and North Sumatra:

• Increased air connectivity enhances business linkages between Singapore and Indonesian companies, particularly in trade, logistics, and services sectors.
• Daily flights support the movement of professionals and investors, strengthening commercial cooperation and facilitating industry conventions, trade fairs, and networking events.
• The introduction of a competitive low‑cost carrier on this route can stimulate price competition, leading to greater passenger demand and higher tourism receipts at ground‑level industries such as hospitality, retail, and local transportation.

Government and airport authorities in Medan have signalled optimism that improved international flight connectivity will encourage investment in airport infrastructure and enhance the city’s economic profile. Kualanamu Airport’s strategic positioning as a regional hub is reinforced when carriers like Scoot commit to daily international services.

In Singapore:

• The new service aligns with Changi Airport’s strategy to maintain strong regional connectivity and to support Singapore’s travel ecosystem.
• Airlines operating efficient short‑haul routes contribute to the sustainability of Singapore’s aviation sector by feeding passengers into larger network connections offered through the wider Singapore Airlines Group.

The cumulative economic impacts of direct international connections such as this are increasingly important in a post‑pandemic environment where tourism and business travel are recovering. Strong aviation links help build resilience in travel demand, enhance regional integration, and diversify tourist source markets.

Operational Advantages and Competitive Positioning

Scoot’s new constant daily service from SIN to KNO reinforces the airline’s expanding footprint in Southeast Asia. With this route, Scoot expands its Indonesian network alongside flights to other emerging cities such as Palembang, Semarang, and Labuan Bajo.

Several operational factors make travel easier and more attractive for passengers using this route:

1. Daily Frequency: With flights scheduled seven days a week, travellers benefit from flexibility, enabling easier planning for business trips, weekend breaks, or family visits. Frequent scheduling also allows alignment with onward connections and travel itineraries.
2. Airbus A320 Efficiency: The Airbus A320 is a reliable and widely used aircraft for short‑haul international routes. Its capacities and operational efficiency make this service cost‑effective for daily operations, ensuring competitive fares and good service reliability.
3. Strategic Hub Position: Singapore Changi Airport is a top global aviation hub with seamless connectivity to numerous destinations. This enhances connectivity for passengers originating from or transiting through Singapore, providing access to global networks beyond Medan.
4. Cost‑Competitive Travel: Scoot’s positioning as a low‑cost carrier enables greater affordability. This invites wider travel demand compared to traditional full‑service carriers only, opening the market to price‑sensitive travellers.

What Makes Travel Easier with Scoot SIN–KNO

In summary, Scoot Airlines’ new daily service from Singapore Changi (SIN) to Medan (KNO), launched on 1 February 2026, represents a strategic enhancement of regional air connectivity. Operating with an Airbus A320 and scheduled seven times weekly, this route provides reliable, flexible, and affordable travel between the two cities.

The new route facilitates tourism growth, strengthens commercial ties, improves economic activity in both regions, and reinforces Singapore’s role as an international travel hub. Passengers benefit from daily scheduling, efficient aircraft operations, and competitive low‑cost travel options — all of which make travel between Singapore and Medan easier and more accessible than ever before.

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