By V. Sivaji
The impressive list of international airlines connecting Penang International Airport (PIA) to the outside world keeps growing.
This time around, Shanghai-based Juneyao Air will commence direct flights to the Penang International Airport (PIA) with effect May 31, 2024, thus adding to the burgeoning livery of airlines connecting international destinations.
Present to announce the latest development to complement the tourism industry here was State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai, David Wang, Juneyao Air, Revenue Management Division, Steven Andres Goh, general manager of Juneyao Airlines Penang and Ooi Chok Yan, CEO of Penang Global Tourism.
Lending support were the tourism industry stakeholders and their representatives at a press conference was held at the Courtyard by Marriott Penang.
Departures from Shanghai after May 31 are on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while return trips from PIA are on every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
“Since December 1, 2023, the Malaysia government has allowed visa exemption for Chinese citizens, bringing a lot of convenience for visitors.
“The new flights will not only able tourists to travel to Shanghai but also those involved in the business sector.
“This initiative is poised to generate increased economic benefits and employment opportunities, laying the groundwork for the sustainable growth of Penang’s tourism industry”, said Wong, while adding that he is also looking forward to another direct flight from India by the end of this year.
He also added that Penang has direct flight connections to 15 international cities, including Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Doha, Haikou, and the most recently added 16th city – Shanghai.
On the domestic flights, Penang currently offers direct flights from to eight domestic destinations, including Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2), Kuching, Kota Bharu, Subang, and Langkawi.
Meanwhile, Juneyao Air will utilise its Airbus A320 model planes for this touted with the airline code number: HO1356/HO1366 and will take around five hr 30 mins for a one way journey.
Currently the airline reaches nearly 200 destinations in Asia and Europe, with a modern fleet of 100 aircrafts, comprising of narrow-bodied Airbus A320s and wide-bodied Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Presently, other major airlines connecting PIA to the world are China Southern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Scoot, Firefly, Batik Air and Air Asia to name a few.
