With a shared history, cultural and business ties, we take a look at the busiest air route in Southeast Asia between Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Among the Southeast Asian nations, the relationship between Singapore (the Republic of Singapore) and Malaysia (Federation of Malaysia) is a unique story. While there is a clear difference in the size of both countries – Malaysia being the bigger of the two – each have a common history, culture, and economic ties. Both countries share a border crossed regularly each day by ordinary Singaporeans and Malaysians. Meanwhile, there are numerous daily flights from different cities in Malaysia to Singapore above in the skies. One of those air routes – the one-hour hop between the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore – is among the busiest not just in Southeast Asia but the world.
According to aviation data company OAG, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route was the 4th busiest international route during the previous year (2024). In 2024, the route was served with over 5.3 million seats between the two cities. Each passenger has their own reasons for taking the short hop, whether to visit family, do business, or take a vacation. While it dropped in the rankings compared to being the top international route in 2023, the historic Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route is an important air link in Southeast Asia.
Image: "Top 10 Busiest International Flight Routes In The World 2024." Credit: OAG
The History of Singapore-Malaysia
Singapore just happens to be located on an island off the southern-most point of Peninsular Malaysia – the western big island of Malaysia. Malaysia covers a bigger area that includes parts of the island of Borneo to the east. Both were once part of the British Empire, occupied by Japan during World War II, and continued to be British territories until Malaysia became an independent nation in 1957.
Singapore would continue to be a British territory until the 1960s before it became part of Malaysia – specifically the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore became part of the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963. However, the union did not last long due to political differences. As a result, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in August 1965. Despite the setback, the tiny island nation of Singapore would become a major economic and political power of itself in Southeast Asia.
Amid the geopolitical changes on Peninsular Malaysia, both countries have a shared history of aviation. Both flag carriers of each country – Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines – can trace their legacies and hubs to one airline: Malayan Airways. Launched on May 1, 1947, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route was the former airlines' maiden route and Malayan continued to serve the region through the times of unity and separation as Malaysian Airways. After the expulsion of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia, the airline was then rebranded as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines in 1966 before ceasing operations in 1972. The assets of the now separated airline – including aircraft – were split between two new airlines that we now know today as Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
While with a shared history, both the newly formed flag carriers would take different paths. Just a small island, Singapore had no domestic routes so Singapore Airlines focused on become a well renowned global airline while Malaysia Airlines would initially connect Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Malaysia Airlines' journey since the split has been more rough with its own challenges including financial difficulties. The Malaysian airline also has experienced damage to its reputation following the disappearance of MH370 and the tragic shoot-down of MH17.
Despite its path being more challenging, Malaysia Airlines continues to serve as a prominent regional and global airline.
+260 Flights Weekly
According to data from flightradar24 from April 2025, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route was served by seven airlines operating a total of over 260 flights per week (one-way). Combined, the seven airlines offered a capacity of around 50,000 seats weekly each way. The airlines operating flights on the route include Malaysia-based budget airline AirAsia, Lion Air Group's Batik Air Malaysia, and Malaysian flag carrier Malaysia Airlines. The Singapore-based carriers include Jetstar Asia, and the two Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group carriers – Singapore Airlines and budget subsidiary Scoot. In addition, Ethiopian Airlines also operates a four-times weekly Fifth-Freedom route between the two cities.
On any given day, you will have multiple choices of flight departure times between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from the airlines based in either city. Travelers can select from up to 12 flights per day with AirAsia, 10 with Malaysia Airlines, 7 with Singapore Airlines, 4 each with Scoot and Batik Air Malaysia, and 3 with Jetstar Asia.
Of the airlines operating flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysia-based budget airline AirAsia and national airline Malaysia Airlines offers the most weekly flights (AirAsia – 80, Malaysia Airlines – 64). The Malaysian companies are followed by Singapore-based Singapore Airlines (47), Batik Air Malaysia (28), Jetstar Asia (21), and Scoot (20).
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines also offers the most weekly seat capacity (14880 and 11136). Despite operating fewer flights compared to AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines trails the two Malaysian carriers offering over 10,000 weekly seats (10265). While operating fewer flights per day, Singapore Airlines deploys both narrowbody and widebody aircraft on the route including Boeing 737s (MAX 8 and -800) and the Airbus A350-900. Scoot also does something similar with the use of its A320/A321s and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners on the route.
With the lead in weekly flights and capacity, it is no surprise AirAsia leads in the weekly Available Seat Mile (ASM) on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route with a weekly ASM of over 4.4 million. AirAsia is followed by Malaysia Airlines (3.3 million) and Singapore Airlines (3.0 million). However, when the SIA Group carriers Singapore Airlines and Scoot are combined they jump to second in weekly ASM (4.2 million).
The Convenience of Flight
Between the island of Singapore and the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia is the Johor Strait (Straits of Johor), where each day it is estimated around 400,000 people cross the Straits between Singapore and Malaysia. Those who wish to cross between both countries can do so on two bridges – the Johor-Singapore Causeway and the Malaysia-Singapore Second link – or board a ferry to cross the Straits from Johor Bahru after a drive or train ride from Kuala Lumpur. With the land transport options, any trip between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will require a few hours of travel time (5-8 hours) and a transfer to cross one of the bridges, or a ferry-ride to Singapore.
Despite not necessarily the cheapest option and the time needed to get to and go through the airport formalities (check-in, boarding, and getting to and from an airport), air travel is the fastest means of travel between the two cities. Budget brands such as AirAsia, Jetstar, Batik Air, and Scoot offer lower fare options, while premium travel options are provided by Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Ethiopian. In addition to the services between KLIA and Singapore Changi Airport, air travel options have since been expanded further with direct flights between the two cities' secondary airports that were once their main air hubs – Subang near Kuala Lumpur and Singapore's former airport Seletar.
While separated as their own countries, Singapore and Malaysia share similar cultural practices, history, family and business ties. Both countries once shared an airline that eventually split to become two of most prominent aviation companies from Southeast Asia. While it is a short flight between the cities of Singapore and Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur, the route continues the historic aviation tradition between both countries.
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