By V. Sivaji
With more and more direct flights to Penang International Airport (PIA), it augers well for Experience Penang 2020 and Visit Malaysia Year 2020.
This is following Taiwan’s boutique Starlux Airlines inaugural flight here beginning from Thursday, Jan 23 and also AirAsia’s direct flight to Chengdu, China from March 8, 2020.
Starlux Airlines will be flying their brand new A321neo generation aircraft. They hope to have another nine A350-900s and eight A350-1000s by
Their fleet is expected to expand to 27 aircraft by end 2024 an 50 by the end of 2030.
They will also expand their routes to North America in the future while Kuala Lumpur and Sabah are also on their radar.
“The “Landing Permit” and the “Foreign Air Operator Permit” has both been approved for Starlux Airlines and Air Asia.
“We have been coordinating with the Malaysia Civil Aviation Authority for the successful issuance of the permits.It is now official that the inaugural flght of Starlux Arlines will be on Jan 23, 2020.” said Penang Exco for Tourism, Ats Culture and Heritage Yeoh Soon Hin in a press statement.
He also added that his office has been working on the permits for the past eight months and also helping the new airline to set up their new office at the PIA.
“We also would like to thank CAAM and the PIA for their cooperation for the commencement of the direct flight route. Our hard work has borne fruit,” said Yeoh.
Meanwhile, top budget airline in the world, Air Asia’s direct flight from PIA to Chengdu, China will commence from March 8, 2020. They will fly at a frequency of three times a week.
Chengdu is best known as home to the adorable giant pandas, it is also a thriving city with plenty to do and taste. With many natural, cultural and historical sights, some of the must-visit attractions include the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinli Ancient Street and the Leshan Giant Buddha and Wenshu Monastery.
Named by UNESCO as a “City of Gastronomy”, many popular Chinese dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken originate from the region. Travellers can also choose to unwind by enjoying aromatic tea at any of the local teahouses.
Chengdu is also a gateway to the western territories of China, including Tibet, which its capital Lhasa is home to the historical center of Tibetan Buddhism and famous Potala Palace; as well as the Unesco World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou, one of the most scenic places in China.
The flight departs from Penang at 10.55pm every Wednesday, Friday and
Sunday and arrives in Chengdu at 2.55am.
On the return flight, Air Asia flies from Chengdu to Penang every Monday,
Thursday and Saturday by departing at 3:55am and arriving in Penang at
8.15am.
“Last February, I led a delegation to visit the deputy mayor of the Chengdu
Municipal People’s Government to discuss collaboration opportunities and the
intention to open up a direct flight.
“Upon my return to Penang, I continued to follow up with the Chinese
Government. The deputy mayor of Chengdu also paid a courtesy visit to the
Penang Government last October where we discussed further the objective to
secure a direct flight connecting both cities,” said Yeoh.
He added that this is a golden opportunity for tour agents to offer new
tourism packages to attract China nationals to travel to Penang and likewise,
which would promote the flight further in hope of the flight frequency being
increased to daily.
He pointed out that the direct flight would boost state effort to penetrate the Western China tourism market which holds high tourism potential.
“We are gradually opening more tourism market in the northern region of China and has successfully wooed a Beijing travel agency to conduct tour groups to Penang from Beijing, China, since last September,” added Yeoh.