Southeast Asia Getting There
Getting to South East Asia by air has never been easier, with hundreds of flights offered each day from the region’s main air hubs of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to destinations around the globe. The region is accessible by air from every continent, with many flights originating in Europe stopping in the Middle East en-route.
The most expensive times to fly to the region are during the European summer months of June, July and August and Christmas time in December, when airfares increase. Off seasons usually coincide with the region’s rainy seasons and are when the cheapest airfares can be found although year-round promotions are available.
Thailand’s Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi) acts as the hub for onward air travel to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, while Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport is the best place to get a flight to the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah and to Brunei. Singapore’s award-winning Changi International Airport caters to worldwide flights as well as regional links to Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.
From the US: from the east coast, JF Kennedy International Airport in New York offers the largest selection of flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur on both US and Asian airlines. Los Angeles International Airport on the west coast also offers dozens of daily direct flights to the region.
From Canada: the primary air hubs of Canada, Vancouver International Airport (west coast) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (Ontario), offer a wide selection of direct flights to major South East Asian airports such as Bangkok and Singapore. It is typically more expensive to fly to South East Asia from Canada than it is from the US.
From the UK: regular flights connect London’s Heathrow and Gatwick international airports with major South East Asian airports. Cheaper flights involve a change in the Middle East, with stops in Dubai common. Low season deals are often available, but peak season flights can be expensive.
From Australia and New Zealand: budget flights now operate between Kuala Lumpur and Coolangatta (Gold Coast), Australia, making travel between South East Asia and Australasia affordable. Connections between Australia and Bangkok and Singapore are also available, with the main Australian gateways being Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. New Zealand offers limited and more expensive connections, making flying to Australia from New Zealand and then taking a connecting flight to South East Asia a cheaper option than flying direct from New Zealand.
From South Africa: the main air hub of South Africa is Johannesburg International Airport, and from here direct flights serve major South East Asian airports like those at Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Direct flights to Cape Town’s international airport are limited and more expensive than flights to Johannesburg.
