SINGAPORE – For many travellers, hunting for cheap flights has become a sport. With airlines dangling weekly promotions and tweaking their rewards charts, those who know where to look can save hundreds – or even fly for almost free. 

This game is especially rewarding in South-east Asia, where  air travel is dominated by low-cost carriers.

“Travellers have access to a wide mix of low-cost carriers (LCCs) alongside strong full-service airlines (FSCs), often competing on the same routes. This creates intense competition, but it’s not just about fares. Airlines also compete on schedule convenience, service quality and overall experience,” says Mr Ritchie Ramsamy, regional director for Asia-Pacific at Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO). 

ATPCO is an airline pricing and data leader that works with more than 440 airlines. Its headquarters are in Virginia, the United States, and it has offices in London and Singapore. 

According to aviation data consultancy OAG Aviation’s Megahubs 2024 report, 16 of its top 25 LCC airport mega hubs are from Asia-Pacific, with budget airlines accounting for 61 per cent of South-east Asia’s airline seats. 

The market share held by LCCs i...