Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai shared another good news to boost tourism as another direct flight from a Chinese city to Penang will commence soon.
During the Routes Asia 2024 Forum, Penang Global Tourism has established contact with the airline from China. After multiple video conferences, the details were finalized. The new route is planned to commence during China’s May Day Golden Week travel peak. The airline is currently awaiting approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM). Once the necessary procedures are completed, the airline will officially announce the details.
Wong stated, “This new direct flight route from China is expected to benefit from the travel surge during China’s May Day Golden Week. It will further enhance connectivity between Penang and the China market, injecting new vitality into tourism, business exchanges, and cultural interactions. This will also reinforce Penang’s position as a regional aviation hub and international tourism destination.” said Wong in a press statement.
Currently, Penang has direct flights from seven China cities: Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Xi’an. The upcoming addition will mark the eighth China city with direct flights to Penang.
In addition, Wong pointed out, “Data from February 2025 shows that the number of China tourists arriving in Penang via international flights reached 33,151, a significant increase of 118.03% compared to February 2024. If we also count travelers transiting through Kuala Lumpur or arriving via land routes, the actual number of China tourists visiting Penang is even more remarkable. Notably, since January 2025, China has surpassed Singapore to become Penang’s second-largest international tourist source market, trailing only behind Indonesia. This marks a shift from its previous third-place ranking and highlights the growing preference and market potential of China tourists in Penang.”
Beyond the newly mentioned direct flight route from China, Penang will also welcome another new direct flight on April 10, 2025. Myanmar Airways International will officially launch a direct flight route from Yangon to Penang. This addition will further expand Penang’s regional aviation network and provide greater convenience for travelers from Southeast Asia.
However, the Penang international flight network also faces market adjustments. Yesterday, AirAsia announced the suspension of eight routes, including four routes from Kota Kinabalu, two from Kuching, one from Kuala Lumpur, and one from Penang. The affected Penang route is the direct flight to Hong Kong, which will be suspended from April 12.
In response, Wong commented, “Since January this year, the number of direct flights between Hong Kong and Penang has significantly increased to 22 flights per week. AirAsia may be adjusting its routes to explore new markets.”
He further explained, “Previously, the Hong Kong-Penang route was operated by AirAsia and Cathay Pacific. However, since November last year, Hong Kong Express Airways has also launched direct flights between Hong Kong and Penang. Currently, three airlines operate on this route. In January 2024, Cathay Pacific only had four weekly flights, while AirAsia had three, totaling seven flights per week. In contrast, by January 2025, Cathay Pacific increased its frequency to eight flights per week, AirAsia increased to seven, and Hong Kong Express Airways added another seven, bringing the total number of direct flights from Hong Kong to Penang from 7 per week last year to 22 per week this year. The intense competition has turned this route into a highly contested market.”
Wong concluded, “AirAsia may be adjusting its routes to tap into new markets, which is a normal commercial decision in the aviation industry.”
Source – YB Wong Hon Wai