China’s Chongqing Airlines made its inaugural flight to Penang via flight no CZ2195 at 12.20am earlier this morning.
Despite the late arrival, present to welcome the passengers was Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai, Ms. Fang XiuJing, China Southern Airlines (parent company of Chongqing Airlines) PGT CEO Ooi Chok Yan, Dr Annuar Mohamed Tourism Malaysia Penang,and Noriah JaafarSr Deputy Director International Promotion Division Tourism Malaysia and their team members.
In his remarks, Wong highlighted that Penang’s international aviation network has reached another key milestone with the inaugural Chongqing–Penang direct flight.
“This marks the official commencement of air connectivity between Penang and Chongqing, opening a new chapter in bilateral links. Chongqing has become the latest China city to establish a direct route to Penang, making it the 8th China city with scheduled direct flights, underscoring Penang’s strategic efforts to strengthen its presence in the China market and further enhance air connectivity with western China, injecting fresh momentum into regional tourism and economic exchanges.”
The service operates four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays while the return flight operates .four times weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
“In recent years, the Penang state government has continuously cultivated the outbound tourism market in China. As early as 2024, I led a delegation to Chongqing to conduct a tourism roadshow, significantly raising Penang’s brand visibility and recognition in the Sichuan-Chongqing region and across western China. Back then, there was a chartered flight between Chongqing and Penang operated by another airline. Moving into 2026, this air link has been upgraded from charter services to scheduled direct flights operated by Chongqing Airlines. The promotional works done during chartered flight period, Penang has now further intensified its promotional efforts, not only signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chongqing Airlines to establish a closer strategic partnership but also deploying large-scale LED advertisements in key locations and commercial districts in Chongqing. These forward-looking and systematic marketing strategies continue to deepen the market penetration and brand influence of Penang’s tourism offerings in Chongqing, enhancing the state’s overall visibility in western China.” said Wong.
He added that given the current volatile international situation, particularly the uncertain developments in the Middle East, cross-border tourism between East and Southeast Asia presents more feasible and practical opportunities.
“To maximize the economic benefits of Penang’s tourism sector amid global fluctuations, it is imperative for the state to diversify its source markets, making a sustained focus on East Asia a critical development priority.” he added.
To date, Penang maintains scheduled direct flights from eight Chinese cities: Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao, and now Chongqing. There are also a handful of chartered flights to other China cities as well.
“With the Chongqing–Penang direct flight now operational, travellers from western China can conveniently arrive in Penang during the peak durian season, savouring the freshest and most authentic ‘King of Fruits.’ This provides an unforgettable tropical culinary experience, achieving the ultimate ‘durian freedom,’ while injecting greater vitality and visitor traffic into Penang’s seasonal durian tourism,” he added.
“The Penang state government, through Penang Global Tourism, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chongqing Airlines, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration. Moving forward, both parties will engage in multi-layered, comprehensive strategic cooperation around the Chongqing–Penang direct route, jointly promoting two-way tourism between Penang and western China, enhancing Penang’s accessibility, attractiveness, and overall competitiveness as an international tourism destination, and creating broader development prospects for tourism and economic cooperation between the two regions