SINGAPORE: Approximately two thirds of the way from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is the small, historic city of Melaka. Scoot announced earlier in August that flights between Changi and Melaka would begin on October 23. At 216 kilometres, the route is the shortest in Changi Airport’s past.
Some online users swiftly criticised the route, noting that short flights have far higher carbon emissions than buses, trains, or even private automobiles.
Such short-distance flights are infamously inefficient in terms of emissions and fuel use. Consider the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route, which, according to travel data provider OAG, was the busiest international route last year.
At just 296 kilometres, it is the shortest of the top 20 international routes for 2023. Cirium aviation analytics shows that in July 2024, the average flight duration from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was 45 minutes, including 22 minutes for taxiing. According to Cirium’s EmeraldSky Flight Emissions data, this equates to 37.75 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per economy class seat. In contrast, a passenger travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by bus or in a car with four other people produces about 10 kg of emissions.
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