Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than $100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering - was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback?
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Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt burdens are putting pressure on budget airlines across the region.
In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to aviation analysts Shukor Yusof and Brendan Sobie about whether the glory days of low-cost travel in Asia are really over. We also hear from travel blogger Jaclynn Seah, who has noticed airfare increases and changing travel costs across Asia.
00:00 Introduction
01:30 How the Iran conflict affected Asia flight prices
02:29 Why budget airlines are more vulnerable to rising jet fuel prices than legacy carriers
03:30 Are travel bloggers noticing higher airfares?
04:30 What major costs do legacy airlines face?
06:33 Why don’t more Asian airlines do fuel hedging?
09:14 Low-cost carriers vs ultra-low-cost carriers
10:30 Could more Asian airlines shut down like Jetstar Asia?
13:45 What drove the surge in travel demand across Asia before Covid-19?
15:24 How will AI change travel and could it uncover rare airfare bargains?
16:13 Will airfares in Asia keep rising?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
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#BBCWorldService #WorldService #flight #flightbooking #asia #budgettravel
If you’ve ever booked a flight across Asia for less than $100, you might have asked the question many travellers are now wondering - was that a temporary golden age, or can cheap travel make a comeback?
Click here to subscribe to our channel 👉🏽 bbc.in/3VyyriM
Asia used to be the home of ultra-cheap flights, but many travellers say those days are fading fast. Rising fuel prices, aircraft shortages and heavy post-pandemic debt burdens are putting pressure on budget airlines across the region.
In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to aviation analysts Shukor Yusof and Brendan Sobie about whether the glory days of low-cost travel in Asia are really over. We also hear from travel blogger Jaclynn Seah, who has noticed airfare increases and changing travel costs across Asia.
00:00 Introduction
01:30 How the Iran conflict affected Asia flight prices
02:29 Why budget airlines are more vulnerable to rising jet fuel prices than legacy carriers
03:30 Are travel bloggers noticing higher airfares?
04:30 What major costs do legacy airlines face?
06:33 Why don’t more Asian airlines do fuel hedging?
09:14 Low-cost carriers vs ultra-low-cost carriers
10:30 Could more Asian airlines shut down like Jetstar Asia?
13:45 What drove the surge in travel demand across Asia before Covid-19?
15:24 How will AI change travel and could it uncover rare airfare bargains?
16:13 Will airfares in Asia keep rising?
Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here 👉🏽 youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc
Instagram: @bbcworldservice
Email: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
----------------
This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel.
If you like what we do, you can also find us here:
Instagram 👉🏽 instagram.com/bbcworldservice
Twitter 👉🏽 twitter.com/bbcworldservice
Facebook 👉🏽 facebook.com/bbcworldservice
BBC World Service website 👉🏽 bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
#BBCWorldService #WorldService #flight #flightbooking #asia #budgettravel
