This week, it’s all about bold pivots and smart plays. Scoot’s dangling a new way to stretch your KrisFlyer miles, while 2 major telcos shake up Singapore’s broadband and mobile scene. There’s good news for retail workers (and their payslips), a card game that turns adulting into fun thanks to Income Insurance, and another round of layoffs from a once-rising logistics player. Oh, and if you’re already planning year-end holidays? Scoot’s got a few new destinations for your wishlist.
Whether you’re browsing on the go or reading with kopi in hand, here are 7 updates to catch you up on the week. Let’s dive in.
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Scoot adds Okinawa, Tokyo Haneda, and Chiang Rai to flight list from December
Following Ninja Van’s job cuts, here’s a brighter travel update: budget airline Scoot is expanding its route map with 3 new destinations just in time for year-end holidays.
New routes and launch dates:
| Destination | Start Date | Frequency | From Fare (One-way) |
| Okinawa | 15 Dec | 3x weekly | $190 |
| Chiang Rai | 1 Jan | 5x weekly | $128 |
| Tokyo (Haneda) | 1 Mar | Daily flights | $190 |
All fares include taxes and are available for booking now via Scoot’s website.
Bonus: More flights to hot destinations
- Bangkok: 35 → 39 flights/week (from this month)
- Jeju: 5 → 7 flights/week (from Jan 2026)
With these new routes and boosted frequencies, Scoot’s clearly gearing up for peak travel demand. Great news for anyone chasing temple views, cherry blossoms, or street eats without breaking the bank.
Scoot lets you redeem flights from just 1,500 KrisFlyer miles with new award chart
After announcing new routes, Scoot is back with another treat for travellers—a new KrisFlyer award chart that lets members redeem flights with miles from as low as 1,500 miles.
What’s new:
- Destinations include: Bangkok, Hangzhou, Ipoh, Jeju, Taipei, Vienna and more
- Applicable to: Scoot Saver and Scoot Advantage Economy class seats
- How to redeem:
- Via FlyScoot.com or the Scoot app
- Log in with your KrisFlyer account
- Select ‘Redeem Flights’
Redemption models explained:
| Model | What it means |
| Award redemption | Pay fixed miles for base fare only; taxes and add-ons paid separately |
| Mix miles + cash | Use miles to offset part or all of the booking; more flexible but variable rates |
Elite member perks still apply:
| Tier | Benefits on Scoot award flights |
| Elite Silver / Gold / PPS | Free standard seat selection, priority boarding |
| PPS / Elite Gold | +5kg baggage with 20kg purchase, one-time flight change fee waiver |
Notes for travellers:
- Award redemptions are one-way only and non-refundable, unless exceptions apply (e.g. medical reasons or significant flight disruption).
- ScootPlus redemptions are not available.
- No miles earned on award base fares—but add-ons earn 1 mile per $1 spent.
- Use the Miles Calculator to check how many miles your route requires.
StarHub expands dominance with full MyRepublic broadband acquisition
StarHub has taken full ownership of MyRepublic’s broadband business in a $105.2 million deal, acquiring the remaining 49.9% stake it didn’t already own. This includes MyRepublic’s broadband brand in Singapore and key operational assets.
What’s included in the deal:
- $94.3 million: For the remaining shares
- $10.9 million: For assets like infrastructure and operational tools
- Total deal size: $105.2 million
This move strengthens StarHub’s multi-brand, multi-segment strategy and positions it well in an increasingly consolidated broadband market. The company is eyeing service bundling and faster growth, with CEO Nikhil Eapen calling it “an acceleration”.
Why it matters:
- Consolidation trend: Comes just a day after Keppel announced it would sell M1’s telecom operations to Simba Telecom for $1.43 billion
- No service disruption: MyRepublic’s mobile and digital businesses will continue operating in Singapore and New Zealand
- No layoffs (for now): StarHub says there are no immediate restructuring plans
Broadband customers can expect continuity, but with enhanced service options over time.
Keppel to sell M1’s telco business to Simba in $1.43 billion telecom shake-up
Hot on the heels of StarHub’s full acquisition of MyRepublic Broadband, another telco deal is making waves: Keppel is selling its majority stake in M1 to Simba Telecom for $1.43 billion.
Deal snapshot:
- Buyer: Simba Telecom (owned by Tuas, Australia-listed)
- Seller: Keppel, offloading 83.9% stake in M1
- Total enterprise value: $1.43 billion
- Keppel’s proceeds: $1 billion in cash
- Assets retained by Keppel: ICT operations including data centres and subsea cables
The transaction aims to drive consolidation, scale, and 5G investment in Singapore’s maturing telco sector. Simba’s share of the local market is currently modest but set for a major leap if the deal is approved.
Target market share after acquisition:
| Segment | Simba (Now) | M1 (Now) | Post-Merger Target |
| Prepaid mobile | 1.5% | 13.5% | 15% |
| Postpaid mobile | 14.4% | 23.9% | 38.3% |
| Broadband | 0.9% | 15% | 15.9% |
Regulatory approval from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority is pending, but both companies have signed the sale agreement.
ALSO READ: Best Fibre Broadband Singapore 2025: Singtel vs Starhub vs M1 vs Others
Progressive Wage Model: Retail workers set for new round of pay bumps from 2025
Following the string of telco moves this week, the retail sector is seeing big shifts too—this time in wages. Over 53,000 full- and part-time resident retail workers will benefit from a fresh 3-year wage increase schedule starting 1 Sep 2025, under Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM).
What’s changing:
- Annual wage increases of $130 to $160 across common roles
- Co-funding from the government (up to 40%) to help employers manage costs
- Expanded training paths, including recognition of IHL and ITE qualifications
Sample monthly gross wage increases (entry-level roles):
| Year | Monthly wage |
| Current | $2,175 |
| 2025 | $2,305 |
| 2026 | $2,435 |
| 2027 | $2,565 |
Hourly part-timers will also see fair, proportional increases—up from $11.41 to $13.45 by 2027.
Key takeaways:
- Cost buffers in place: Co-funding via the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme until 2026
- Training aligned with industry shifts: More digital, customer-focused roles anticipated
- Job transformation underway: Fewer cashiers, more upskilled retail professionals
With challenges like shrinking footfall and rising competition, the model aims to balance fair wages with business sustainability, while reshaping retail into a sector with long-term career prospects.
Income launches SG-inspired card game to spotlight insurance and the “Singaporean Dream”
To celebrate its 55th anniversary and Singapore’s SG60, Income Insurance has released a limited-edition version of the popular card game The Singaporean Dream. This special edition adds a playful twist to life’s curveballs, while subtly highlighting how financial protection helps Singaporeans safeguard their dreams.
Gameplay meets financial literacy:
- Based on the original Singaporean Dream card game
- New mechanics include “pay, steal, sabo, and insure” your way to your goals
- Covers life events like travel disruptions, health scares, and car accidents
The campaign aims to spark a broader conversation on protecting your personal version of the Singaporean Dream through insurance and sound financial planning.
How to get the card set:
| Method | Details |
| Buy family travel insurance | Get a free card pack with policy purchase (min. $50, 8–22 Aug 2025) |
| Visit pop-up zones | Try the game at Income branches and lite branches at FairPrice (from 1 Sep to end of the year) |
| Join the giveaway | Use the special Instagram filter + #SgDreamMadeYours and tag @incomeinsurance on your Instagram Story to enter the contest. 55 winners with the most creative Instagram stories will win a game set. |
Ninja Van retrenches 12% of local workforce in third round of 2024 layoffs
Ninja Van has announced its third round of job cuts this year, laying off around 12% of its Singapore-based workforce. The logistics company cited ongoing industry pressures, global uncertainty, and a shift toward more sustainable operations.
This round follows earlier layoffs in April and July, and is part of a broader restructuring strategy.
What’s changing:
- Focus areas: Business-to-business restocking, cold chain logistics, and tech solutions
- Roles reviewed: Organisation-wide evaluation for future relevance
- Streamlining: HQ functions restructured to boost agility and competitiveness
Support for affected workers:
- Severance pay: In line with Tripartite Advisory for both short- and long-tenured staff
- Healthcare coverage: Extended till 31 Dec 2025
- Mental health and stock option support: Continued access and extended vesting window
- Career assistance:
- Outplacement and referral support
- Career coaching via NTUC’s e2i
- Pro-bono counselling services
- SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support: Up to $6,000 in aid
- Union Training Assistance Programme for skills upgrading
Union engagement helped ensure fair treatment, despite Ninja Van not being a unionised company.
That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond.
This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.
About the author
Vanessa Nah likes her finance articles the way she likes her sitcoms—light-hearted, entertaining, and leaving people knowing a little more about life. She believes money—like life—should be made simple. Outside of work, you’ll find Vanessa attending dance classes, fingerpicking a guitar, and fulfilling her life mission to make her one-eyed cat the most spoiled kitty in the world.