By V. Sivaji
The majestic looking Boeing 787 Dreamliner from LOT Polish Airlines inaugural flight landed at the Penang International Airport this morning at 9.45am. Ferrying some 262 passengers, the aircraft was given the traditional water salute.
Present to welcome the flight was tourism stakeholders led by Penang Global Tourism Chief Executive Officer Ooi Chok Yan, Tourism Malaysia officials among others. Among them were Samuel Lee (Deputy Director General (Promotion II) of Tourism Malaysia)、Mateusz Reszczyk（Counsellor of the Republic of Poland in Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Seri Suppiah Manikam（Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Penang, Revathy Muruvin（Representative of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ben Ho (Vice Chairman of Malaysian Association of Hotels, Penang Chapter), Bapak Budi Tirtawisata, Group CEO of Indonesia based Panorama Group among others.
Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai who could not attend the ceremony due to his state assembly commitments issued a press statement.
“The inaugural winter charter flight from Warsaw, Poland, arrived safely at Penang International Airport (PEN) at 9.45am Penang time this morning, marking the beginning of a new air connection spanning Europe and Asia.
“The inaugural Warsaw–Penang charter flight marks the official launch of Penang’s first-ever direct long-haul air connection from Poland. Covering a distance of more than 8,800 kilometres, the new route represents another significant step in Penang’s efforts to expand its presence in the European market and opens a new gateway for European visitors to discover Penang.
“The Penang State Government is committed to exploring new growth opportunities for the tourism industry by actively diversifying our source markets to strengthen the sector’s overall resilience. Establishing long-haul inbound charter flights to tap into European markets and deepen Penang’s international tourism connectivity is one of the initial strategies towards achieving this objective,” he said.
“This brings not only international visitors but also their spending power directly into Penang. Their expenditure will generate economic activity across various sectors, including accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, tourist attractions and related services. This allows businesses throughout the tourism value chain to benefit collectively, creating a multiplier effect for the state’s tourism economy,” he said.
Wong said the winter charter service between Warsaw and Penang operates under flight number LO6519. The flight is operated by LOT Polish Airlines, with travel operator Rainbow Tours responsible for the programme.
The service operates approximately once a week, departing Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) at 3.35pm local time every Wednesday. The flight takes approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes.
Wong further said the service would operate throughout the 2026/2027 European winter season, from 4 November 2026 until March 2027, with a total of 19 flights. Each flight is expected to carry approximately 250 to 300 passengers.
“The programme is expected to bring thousands of Polish visitors to Penang, providing a fresh source of international arrivals for the state’s tourism industry. It is also projected to generate more than RM30 million in tourism-related economic benefits, while stimulating spending on accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, shopping and tourism experiences. This will provide fresh momentum for Penang’s tourism economy,” he said.
Citing the Warsaw–Penang inbound charter service as an example, Wong said the state government hoped to use targeted charter programmes to establish flexible air links with long-haul source markets, making Penang more accessible to international markets that have traditionally been geographically distant.
“The Penang State Government will pursue this progressively, building from individual market opportunities to broader air connectivity and, eventually, a more extensive international network. Our aim is to steadily expand Penang’s reach and influence in the global tourism market,” he said.
He also said that, in support of the charter programme, Penang Global Tourism had prepared a dedicated Polish-language brochure introducing Penang as a destination and highlighting its attractions.
“The brochure will help our Polish guests discover more of Penang’s diverse appeal, from its beautiful beaches and natural landscapes to its rich cultural heritage, history and local flavours. It will provide them with a better understanding of the range of experiences Penang has to offer as they plan their visits,” he said.
Syabas to PGT and team for making this inaugural flight a reality !