Known as secondary or tertiary destinations, these locations are either non-capital cities within a country, or capital cities that are still considered to be off the beaten track as tourist destination choices.

Exploring tertiary destinations was established as a rising trend just prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. According to a 2018 , travelers were already interested in exploring secondary destinations such as Chiang Mai in Thailand, the Azores in Portugal, and Cartagena in Colombia.聽

In 2019, Luca Franco, CEO and Founder of Luxury Frontiers, a specialist firm focusing on alternative architecture and interior design, that over-tourism and the collective desire to go off the grid were two factors that had contributed to the rise of secondary cities, citing Sedona, Arizona and San Juan Islands in Washington State as examples.

When borders reopened after the pandemic, revenge travel came out in full force, as people revisited their favorite capital destinations and travelers simply . 

To disperse tourists and avoid overcrowding, tourism boards and governments in the Asia Pacific region (APAC) started pushing and marketing secondary cities as destinations that could provide new and enriching experiences. 

In Thailand, the country精东影业 Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Authority (TAT) focus for 2024 is the development of a number of as potential tourism destinations. These include Kanchanaburi, a town 130 kilometers west of Bangkok, which is being promoted as a filmmaking hub, and Chanthaburi in east Thailand, which boasts diverse food specialties and delicacies as selling points.

In 2023, tourism boards of secondary destinations and regions around Japan joined the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) Incentive Travel Business Meetings in Singapore to meet with travel and tourism companies in an incentive-based collaboration.

A JNTO spokesperson was quoted in travel publication .saying: 鈥淥ne of Japan精东影业 strengths is that there are many cities other than Tokyo that have sufficient capacity to conduct MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) in. According to the ICCA statistics for 2022, 17 Japanese cities were ranked within the top 100 cities for number of in-person meetings in the Asia-Pacific region.鈥�

Apart from government and tourism board promotions, a clear indication of demand for secondary destinations is airlines announcing flight launches to these lesser-known cities. 

Within the APAC region, airlines are starting to connect to smaller regions from central hubs, and there精东影业 been a visible rise in narrowbody aircraft orders too.

Embraer entering Southeast Asia via Scoot

In April 2024, low-cost carrier Scoot welcomed the first of nine Embraer E190-E2 aircraft into its fleet. Scoot is the first Singaporean carrier to take delivery of E190-E2s. Prior to their arrival, Scoot精东影业 fleet consisted entirely of the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Scoot has predominantly used its widebodies to far-flung destinations from Singapore such as Athens, Berlin and Jeddah. Within the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, Scoot offers flights to mid-haul destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne down under, and Sapporo and Seoul in North Asia. 

In 2023, Scoot was named the 鈥榃orld精东影业 Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline鈥� by Skytrax. 

However, since the Embraer jets entered the carrier精东影业 fleet, it appears that Scoot is now focusing on lesser-known destinations which are nevertheless nearby.

In an Executive Spotlight interview with 精东影业 at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, Scoot COO CK Ng said that the single-aisle Embraer E190-E2 would give Scoot the chance to 鈥渆xperiment鈥� with new routes and explore new frontiers.

鈥淭he Embraer E190-E2 basically will allow us to fly to places where we find that, if we operate with the conventional A320 or the 787s, will be over capacitated,鈥� Ng explained. 鈥淭here are some places where we think we don鈥檛 have that kind of capacity yet.鈥�

Embraer精东影业 outlook on the Asia-Pacific region is  almost identical. During a 2024 Singapore Airshow media roundtable, Adam Young, Embraer Vice President Marketing for APAC, said that the company has seen a rise in demand for secondary cities or tertiary destinations in the region. 

Young added that the market shift to secondary cities, which often have smaller airports, will spark a demand in Asia-Pacific for small narrowbody aircraft such as the E190-E2.

In March 2024, Scoot revealed the first six destinations to which its new Embraer E190-E2 plane will fly, all of them being secondary cities:

New destinations:

• Koh Samui Airport (USM) 
• Sibu International Airport (SBW)

Existing destinations: 

• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) 
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA)
• Krabi International Airport (KBV)
• Miri International Airport (MYY) 

Qantas鈥� new Embraer hub

In 2022, Australian flag carrier Qantas established an Embraer E190 jet base hub at Darwin Airport (DRW) in the country精东影业 Northern Territory. 

Qantas said that at least four E190s were based in Darwin to service key QantasLink routes across Australia, as well as a new international passenger service from Darwin to Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, or East Timor.聽

The Embraer jets are being deployed on Qantas鈥� network as part of a three-year deal with Alliance Airlines, intended to ramp up domestic flights and increase connections and schedules between smaller capital cities and regional centers.

The size and range of the E190 aircraft has opened up more flights on existing routes, as well as new routes that would not have been viable with larger aircraft.

In January 2024, Qantas announced that it will use its fleet of E190 aircraft to launch direct flights from Darwin Airport to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), commencing from December 2024.

Central Asia

Central Asia is composed mainly of the 鈥榮tan鈥� countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, along with some parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, China, Mongolia, and Russia.

The area as a whole can be considered a secondary region as a tourist destination, but nevertheless, in 2024 airlines are launching new flights to Central Asia. 

What makes Central Asia so appealing, and markedly different from other secondary or tertiary destinations, are the factors behind its growth. 

February 2024stated that, despite an energy crisis, Central Asia enjoyed economic growth and avoided major conflicts in 2023, and the same is expected for 2024. 

The report said that Central Asia精东影业 economic performance had exceeded expectations during 2023, and that the war in Ukraine was a major factor for this success.

All countries in Central Asia strengthened economic engagement with Russia as they filled the vacuum created by the departure of international companies from Russia and benefitted from the relocation of Russian firms.

鈥淗elping Moscow with running secretive imports of banned Western goods and technology proved particularly lucrative for many Central Asian entrepreneurs,鈥� the report claimed. 

As these countries rose steadily, so did their economic ties with countries outside of Russia, leading to a number of commercial carriers launching flights to the region.

Qatar Airways

In June 2024, Qatar Airways officially launched its inaugural flight from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS), marking the start of four-times-weekly flights on the carrier精东影业 A320 fleet.

Mohamed Faleh Al Hajri, Acting President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) said in a Qatar Airways press release that the new route will strengthen bilateral relations between Qatar and Uzbekistan, boosting economic, cultural, and tourism cooperation and highlighting the aviation sector精东影业 role in economic development.

AirAsia X

In March 2024, AirAsia X officially entered the Central Asian market with the launch of a direct service from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Almaty International Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan.

AirAsia is the first Malaysian carrier to fly directly into Kazakhstan精东影业 capital.

鈥淭he launch of our direct flights to Almaty today with an impressive almost a hundred per cent load factor marks a significant leap forward for AirAsia X as we venture into the heart of Central Asia,鈥� AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail declared in a press statement.

鈥淭his strategic move underscores our continued commitment to expanding our global footprint and reconnecting travelers with the world’s most captivating destinations. We are confident that our entry into the Kazakh market will not only enhance tourism between both countries but also foster closer ties regionally, as we can connect the people in the largest country in Central Asia to 130 destinations from Kuala Lumpur,鈥� Ismail added.

IndiGo

In June 2024, Indian low cost carrier IndiGo announced that it is to double its volume of flights from Delhi精东影业 Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Almaty International Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan, Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) in Georgia (Southwestern Asia), and Tashkent International Airport, to meet the growing demand for travel in the region. 

鈥淲e are pleased to announce additional flights to Tashkent, Almaty and Tbilisi from Delhi,鈥� Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo Head of Global Sales said in a press statement. 

鈥淭hese new flights have been announced to cater to the increasing demand for outbound and leisure travel to these destinations. With this, IndiGo now operates daily flights to all four of our Central Asian destinations: Tashkent, Almaty, Tbilisi and Baku,鈥� Malhotra added.

鈥�

All these flights and expansions have been announced within the last two years, with the majority being announced since January 2024. Growth of secondary nations and regions is definitely happening, then – and this may be just the beginning.

鈥�

Which secondary destination or region are you most interested in visiting?

The incident unfolded on May 29, 2024, during the afternoon with KLM passengers onboard the flight witnessing the fatality.

Some details regarding whether the deceased was male or female have yet to be confirmed and although presumed to be an airport worker this is still unknown for certain.

Authorities are also working to establish if the was an accident or a potential act of suicide.

An employee at the airport told Dutch newspaper that the KLM Embraer E190 was being pushed back at the time and preparing to depart.

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee confirmed that it is investigating the incident and that all passengers and crew disembarked the aircraft following the incident.

A tragic incident occurred today at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport where an individual was fatally injured after being ingested into the jet engine of a KLM Cityhopper Embraer aircraft.

— A Fly Guy's Crew Lounge (@AFlyGuyTravels)

In a statement KLM said: 鈥淎 fatal incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly, this person has died. The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund. We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol.鈥�

The aircraft, registered PH-EZL, is part of KLM Cityhopper fleet, which operates on regional routes for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol said that its 鈥渢houghts go out to the relatives鈥� of the deceased.

Malaysia Airlines releases exclusive photos of first Airbus A330neo in Toulouse

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-29

The route will be flown by the airline精东影业 Embraer E-190 jets, operated by its group member, National Jet Express (NJE).

National Jet Express is an Australian charter airline and aviation services provider with headquarters in Perth. 

鈥淭his is terrific news for Perth and Adelaide travelers because more operators means more

competition but in the case of Rex, it also means better service and reliability,鈥� NJE Director Anthony Gibara said in a statement.

Gibara also added that Virgin Australia and Qantas canceled almost 85 Perth to Adelaide flights in the first four months of 2024. 

鈥淛ust 56 % of its [Virgin精东影业] flights arrived on time during that period, while its on time departures

were only slightly better at 59 %. Travelers deserve better and they will get it with Rex,鈥� Gibara said, adding that the airline intends to increase the number of services once it has established the route. 

鈥淩ex has been a wonderful supporter of the Adelaide market, including regional links, for

many years, and today精东影业 announcement builds on the introduction of services from Adelaide

to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over the past three years,” said Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Brenton Cox.

Rex Airlines announces new Melbourne to Perth service launching June 2024

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-05-24

Ed Wegel, now the head of AVi8 Air Capital, announced in a LinkedIn post that Zoom will take flight using a fleet of Embraer E190 and E195 jets before eventually switching to Airbus A220 补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟.听

鈥淲e are moving forward on our scheduled airline operation, and we will launch with the Embraer E190/195 E1, as we await Airbus A220s in a few years,鈥� Wegel wrote. 

Wegel praised the Embraer E1 for providing 鈥済reat range with an excellent engine type- the GE 34鈥�.   

No details regarding a launch date or exactly where the airline will commence operation were given but it is thought that it will mirror the network of former Miami-based operator Air Florida. 

Earlier in the year it was reported that Wegel planned to launch an airline called Air Flo which would operate an 鈥淎ir Florida narrowbody route network”. 

In a LinkedIn post last month Wegel said Air Flo will 鈥渙perate scheduled service from several Florida focus cities鈥� with an Airbus A220 fleet.聽

Wegel, who used to be president and CEO at Eastern Airlines, also founded a Florida-based startup airline called UrbanLink.  

On May 6, 2024, Lilium announced it has reached an agreement with UrbanLink for 20 units of its electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the Lilium Jet, plus options for 20 more.聽聽聽聽聽

UrbanLink aims to operate inter-urban services in South Florida, connecting places such as Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Marco Island, from 2026. 

In his most recent LinkedIn post Wegel said that 鈥淶oom will work closely with UrbanLink to connect passengers鈥�. 

Wegel also suggested that future UrbanLink pilots, who will start with 500 flight hours, will eventually be able move to Zoom’s E190s and eventually A220s. 

鈥淲e will home grow our cockpit crews,鈥� Wegel wrote.聽聽

The name Zoom has previously been used by a Canadian low-fare carrier that ceased operations in 2008.聽

Lilium announces order of 20 eVTOL aircraft from US startup airline UrbanLink

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byMiquel Ros

2024-05-07

The low-cost carrier marked the milestone with a launch event at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) which was attended by Singapore精东影业 Minister for Transport and Minister for Finance.

The event offered guests a closer look at the E190-E2精东影业 interior, which includes 112 seats in a 2-2 single class configuration, a standard seat pitch of 29鈥�, and larger cabin windows. 

According to Scoot, the E190-E2 is also currently the industry精东影业 quietest and most fuel efficient single-aisle aircraft.

The first E190-E2 aircraft, which arrived in Singapore on April 15, 2024, took off on its first operational flights to Krabi and Hat Yai, two famous beach and cultural destinations in Thailand.

The second E190-E2 aircraft has also been delivered to Singapore and is in the final phase of preparations for operations. Scoot said that the remaining seven aircraft are expected to be progressively delivered by the end of 2025.

鈥淭oday精东影业 launch of our first E190-E2 would not have been possible without the support of our partners and unwavering commitment of all our staff to ensure a successful entry into service,鈥� Leslie Thng, Scoot Chief Executive Officer said in a statement, adding that the E190-E2 was a 鈥渘atural choice鈥� with its modern operating capabilities and fuel-efficient credentials. 

鈥淲e are confident that with this new-generation aircraft, we will continue to strengthen our presence in the region, enhance our connectivity to non-metro destinations and provide our customers with even more memorable travel experiences,鈥� Thng added.

In an exclusive interview with 精东影业 at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, Scoot COO CK Ng said the single-aisle Embraer E190-E2 will allow Scoot the chance to 鈥渆xperiment鈥� with new routes and explore new frontiers.

鈥淭he Embraer E190-E2 basically will allow us to fly to places where we find that if we operate with the conventional A320 or the 787s will be over capacitated,鈥� Ng told 精东影业.

In March 2024, Scoot revealed the first six destinations its new Embraer E190-E2 plane will fly to – and they are all secondary cities. 

New destinations: 

• Koh Samui Airport (USM)聽
• Sibu International Airport (SBW)

Existing destinations: 

• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)聽
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA)
• Krabi International Airport (KBV)
• Miri International Airport (MYY)聽

Exclusive interview: Why is Scoot adding Embraer narrowbodies to its fleet?

• Executive Spotlight

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-04-06

The JetBlue Embraer E-190 had been cleared to depart to Boston Logan Airport (BOS) by air traffic control at around 07:40 am local time on April 18, 2024.聽聽

The JetBlue E-190 initiated its takeoff on Runway 4. However, the flight crew were unaware that air traffic control had also just given the go-ahead to the Southwest Boeing 737 MAX 8 to taxi across the same runway.聽聽

As the JetBlue aircraft began to accelerate for takeoff, air traffic control realized the seriousness of the events unfolding on the runway and quickly radioed through to both 补颈谤肠谤补蹿迟.听聽

‘Stop, stop’

In a recording of the interaction published online, air traffic controllers can be heard yelling 鈥渟top, stop鈥� at both sets of pilots.  

The Southwest pilot can then clearly be heard replying, 鈥淲e stopped. We were cleared to cross Runway 4鈥�.  

The JetBlue pilot can also be heard confirming that the Embraer had stopped, and takeoff aborted.  

In a statement to CNN, the FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident and acknowledged that both planes were directed onto the same runway.聽

southwest + jetblue planes nearly collided on the runway at Reagan airport in DC today

ATC directed the southwest plane to cross a runway where the Jetblue plane was already cleared to takeoff

listen to the screams in the tower

video credit:

— Gregg Re (@gregg_re)

鈥淎n air traffic controller instructed Southwest Airlines Flight 2937 to cross Runway 4 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while JetBlue Flight 1554 was starting its takeoff roll on the same runway,鈥� the FAA said. 

According to CNN, and based on flightradar24.com data, the two planes were around 400 feet apart when they stopped, and the Southwest jet had passed the hold line.  

In a statement from both airlines, JetBlue said that its aircraft 鈥渁borted take-off due to another aircraft attempting to cross the runway,鈥� while Southwest said it was 鈥渨orking with the FAA to fully understand the circumstances鈥�. 

Soon after the incident, both aircraft were able to depart Washington.聽聽

FAA probe: United Airlines passengers filmed in Boeing 757 cockpit midflight聽

• Airlines
• Aviation Safety

byIan Molyneaux

2024-04-19

Named Explorer 3.0, the aircraft is the first of Scoot精东影业 nine new E190-E2s to arrive in Singapore. It departed from Brazil on April 12, 2024, and made several fuel stops before arriving at Changi Airport, where it was greeted with a water cannon salute.

According to Scoot, the second Embraer aircraft is scheduled to arrive by the end of April 2024, while the remaining seven are expected to be progressively delivered by the end of 2025.

鈥淲e are honored to be the first Singapore carrier to take delivery of this modern and fuel-efficient aircraft and the E190-E2 jets are crucial to our overall network growth strategy,鈥� Leslie Thng, Scoot CEO said in a press statement.

Scoot精东影业 Embraer E190-E2 routes are set to begin in May 2024 with Explorer 3.0精东影业 inaugural flight scheduled to Krabi International Airport (KBV) in Thailand.

In an Executive Spotlight interview with 精东影业 at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, Scoot COO CK Ng said that the single-aisle Embraer E190-E2 would give Scoot the chance to 鈥渆xperiment鈥� with new routes and being able to explore new frontiers.

In a May 2023 , Scoot CEO Leslie Thng said the E190-E2s will allow the airline to serve 鈥渢hinner routes to non-metro destinations out of Singapore鈥�.

In March 2024, Scoot revealed the first six destinations its new Embraer E190-E2 plane will fly to, all of them being secondary cities. 

These new destinations are: 

• Koh Samui Airport (USM)聽
• Sibu International Airport (SBW)

Existing destinations: 

• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)聽
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA)
• Krabi International Airport (KBV)
• Miri International Airport (MYY)聽

Exclusive interview: Why is Scoot adding Embraer narrowbodies to its fleet?

• Executive Spotlight

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-04-06

The delivery of the E190-E2 marks the first time that a Singapore carrier has introduced an aircraft from the Brazilian manufacturer.

The aircraft is named 鈥楨xplorer 3.0鈥�, in celebration of the third and newest fleet addition to Scoot.

鈥淲e are honored to be the first Singapore carrier to take delivery of this modern and fuel-efficient aircraft and the E190-E2 jets are crucial to our overall network growth strategy,鈥� Leslie Thng, Scoot CEO said in a press statement.

鈥淭he delivery of the first Embraer E190-E2 reflects our confidence in the demand for air travel and our commitment to connect our customers to more destinations at the same great value. We thank Azorra and Embraer for supporting us in this next chapter as we become the first major operator of the E2 in Southeast Asia,鈥� Thng added.

In an Executive Spotlight interview with 精东影业 at the 2024 Singapore Airshow, Scoot COO CK Ng said that the single-aisle Embraer E190-E2 will give Scoot the chance to 鈥渆xperiment鈥� with new routes and being able to explore new frontiers

鈥淭he Embraer E190-E2 basically will allow us to fly to places where we find that, if we operate with the conventional A320 or the 787s, we鈥檇 be over capacitated,鈥� Ng told 精东影业. 鈥淭here are some places where we think we don鈥檛 have that kind of capacity yet.鈥�

Scoot精东影业 Embraer E190-E2 routes are set to begin in May 2024 with Explorer 3.0精东影业 inaugural flight scheduled to Krabi International Airport (KBV) in Thailand.

Scoot will take delivery of three other E190-E2s this year, with the remaining four due to arrive in 2025.

Exclusive interview: Why is Scoot adding Embraer narrowbodies to its fleet?

• Executive Spotlight

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-04-06

The E190 E-Freighter conversion aircraft took flight in Brazil for the first time on April 4, 2024, for around two hours in which a complete evaluation of the model was carried out. 

The first flight is part of a series of evaluations that Embraer is conducting before the E-Freighter jets enter into operation.聽聽

The aircraft has already been successful in both ground pressurization and cargo loading tests.聽

鈥淭he E-Freighter program opens a new business opportunity for Embraer, meeting e-commerce精东影业 growing global demand for cargo transport and matching the high-tech E-Jets family to an unbeatable operational performance,鈥� Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer, said. 鈥淲e are very pleased with E190F精东影业 and E195F精东影业 fast progress during the testing period. These jets will be important tools for our customers and allow them to work with more agile and decentralized deliveries.鈥� 

E-Jets converted to freighters will have over 50% more volume capacity, three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30% lower operating costs than narrowbodies.  

If combining capacity under the floor and main deck, the maximum structural payload is 13,500 kg for the E190F and 14,300 kg for the E195F. 

On December 1, 2023, the first completed E-Freighter conversion was unveiled at Embraer精东影业 headquarters in S茫o Jos茅 dos Campos after the program was launched in July 2022.聽

Take a look at our newest member of the E-Jet Family, the E-Freighter! Here精东影业 how we converted an E190 from all-passenger to all-cargo configuration.

— Embraer (@embraer)

Brazilian airline Azul did not wait for Embraer精东影业 move and transformed several of its E190s into freighters in 2021 in collaboration with engineering firm LHColus Technologia, also from Brazil.聽聽

The aircraft used by Embraer for the first test flight belongs to Regional One, a leasing company from the United States. 

Among Embraer精东影业 customers for the new freighter are Irish lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) and Lanzhou Aviation Industry Development Group.聽 聽

Embraer unveils its first completed E190 to E-Freighter conversion: video聽聽

• Air Cargo
• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-01

While accepting the award for 鈥楤est Low Cost Long Haul Airline鈥� in Paris, Scoot CEO Leslie Thng said the airline will 鈥渃ontinue to pave the way in redefining value travel in the industry.鈥�

Less than a year later, Scoot is doing exactly that. The airline, which boasts a fleet of entirely Airbus A320s and Boeing B787 Dreamliners, is now adding an entirely new aircraft type – the Embraer E190-E2. 

At the 2024 Singapore Airshow, 精东影业 caught up with Scoot’s COO, Ng Chee Keong, more popularly known as CK Ng, for the next installment of our Executive Spotlight interview series.聽

Ng shared how the Embraer E190-E2 integrates with the airline精东影业 operational vision, how the airline crew is training for the new aircraft, and how Scoot is adjusting aircraft maintenance to suit a completely new aircraft type.

Why the Embraer E190-E2 is now part of Scoot精东影业 fleet

Ng said the single-aisle Embraer E190-E2 will give Scoot the chance to 鈥渆xperiment鈥� with new routes and being able to explore new frontiers

鈥淭he Embraer E190-E2 basically will allow us to fly to places where we find that if we operate with the conventional A320 or the 787s will be over capacitated,鈥� Ng explained. 鈥淭here are some places where we think we don鈥檛 have that kind of capacity yet.鈥�

Ng精东影业 comments are validated by Embraer精东影业 outlook on the Asia-Pacific region.

During a 2024 Singapore Airshow media roundtable, Adam Young, Embraer Vice President Marketing for APAC, said the company sees a demand for secondary cities or tertiary destinations in the region. 

Young added that the market shift to secondary cities, which often have smaller airports, will spark a demand for small narrowbody aircraft in Asia-Pacific. 

The first of Scoot精东影业 nine E190-E2 aircraft is expected to arrive sometime in April 2024, and will come from Embraer精东影业 manufacturing facility in S茫o Jos茅 dos Campos, Brazil.

In March 2024, Scoot revealed the first six destinations its new Embraer E190-E2 plane will fly to, and they are all secondary cities. 

New destinations: 

• Koh Samui Airport (USM) 
• Sibu International Airport (SBW)

Existing destinations: 

• Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) 
• Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA)
• Krabi International Airport (KBV)
• Miri International Airport (MYY) 

In a , Scoot CEO Leslie Thng said the E190-E2s will allow the airline to serve 鈥渢hinner routes to non-metro destinations out of Singapore鈥�.

How is Scoot training its crew for the new Embraer fleet?

Ng expressed his eagerness to welcome the E190-E2s into Scoot精东影业 fleet, a new aircraft type, which he said is 鈥渢otally nascent鈥� in Singapore and the region. 

鈥淚 daresay that Embraer doesn鈥檛 show its face pretty much [in the region]. So, in that sense, I welcome the new addition and I鈥檓 very sure the general public and our customers are very excited,鈥� he said.

Ng also said that because the airline is welcoming a new aircraft type, it has looked at training all departments and areas from engineering and pilot and cabin crew training to ground support and even ramp support facilities. 

He added that training has been implemented for the smallest of equipment, “even as basic as a tow bar”. 

“Each aircraft type has its own organic tow bar, and the E190-E2精东影业 is different,鈥� he said. 

When it comes to pilot training for the Embraer E190-E2, Ng expressed the importance of minimal disruption to current operations, hence the preference to base the simulators in Singapore. 

鈥淲e have simulators in Singapore for the 787 and the 320s, but in order for us to optimize training and to not have too much traveling time overseas, we鈥檇 rather have the simulator in Singapore,鈥� Ng said.

Ng shared that one of the 鈥渕ain attractions鈥� of having Embraer in Singapore was that it was prepared to bring a simulator into the country.

鈥淲e basically had an opening ceremony,鈥� Ng said. 鈥淲e inaugurated the simulator a few days ago, so I would say that simulator training in Singapore was a first-hand opportunity for pilots to have time optimized between traveling overseas and all that.鈥�

On February 19, 2024, Embraer and CAE officially inaugurated the APAC region’s first E-Jets E2 full flight simulator (FFS) in Singapore. The E2 training program features CAE精东影业 competency-based training assessment (CBTA) courseware, interactive classroom instruction with the CAE Simfinity virtual simulator (VSIM), and immersive practical training in a new CAE 7000XR Series FFS. 

Scoot pilots have already begun training in preparation for the E190-E2精东影业 entry into service later this year. For the training, pilots will experience all aspects of flight and practice multiple scenarios to enhance their skills and preparedness ahead of Scoot精东影业 first revenue flights with the new aircraft.

Scoot精东影业 cabin crew training for the E190-E2 is also conducted in Singapore. 

鈥淔or the cabin crew training, we have the door training in Singapore, so again it reduces the travel time overseas,鈥� Ng explained. 鈥淲hen you are away from Singapore, it means you don鈥檛 have much time for day-to-day operations.鈥� 

Regional MRO support 

Ng said that the current line maintenance for the E190-E2s will be performed by SIA Engineering Company, which undertook training courses designed by Embraer. 

鈥淭hey have to learn,鈥� Ng said. 鈥淲e have courses that were basically started by Embraer, from Brazil where they learn how to get a type rating for the engineers in order to fully service the aircraft down here.鈥� 

With the demand for narrowbody aircraft and secondary destinations, Ng said Scoot is looking forward to the possibility of a regional support for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). 

鈥淔or MRO facilities, we are looking at regional support and that精东影业 a possibility we are exploring right now,鈥� Ng said. 鈥淚n time to come, we will have an established Embraer MRO presence where we can carry out our checks.鈥�

 In February 2024, Embraer entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fokker Services Asia, assigning Fokker Services Group Asia精东影业 facility in Seletar, Singapore as an Authorized Service Center for Embraer精东影业 first generation E-Jets family, supporting the steadily growing Embraer presence in the region.

On its website, Scoot promises the arrival of the Embraer E190-E2s will create a 鈥渨ider network鈥� and 鈥渘ew adventures鈥�. 

So, with the plane manufacturer strengthening its presence in Asia-Pacific and the airline unveiling new destinations, it seems that Scoot精东影业 customers can certainly look forward to reaching new frontiers.