Dato Tony Goh – MAH Penang chairman
By V. Sivaji
The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter welcomes the direct flights from Warsaw to Penang, with the inaugural arrival scheduled at Penang International Airport on November 5, 2026.
For Penang’s hotel industry, the new charter connection is being viewed as an important opportunity to tap a growing European market.
Dato’ Tony Goh, chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang Chapter, stressed the importance of strengthening direct international connectivity to support the state’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
“More direct international flights could help Penang attract visitors who stay longer and spend across a wider range of tourism products, rather than simply increasing arrival numbers.
“The direct Warsaw-Penang service also removes the need for Polish travellers to make an additional connection through regional aviation hubs before reaching the island,” he said, adding that the hospitality industry in particular stands to benefit from these holiday makers.
With this latest development, the Penang International Airport is set to welcome the Boeing 787 planes operated by LOT Polish Airlines. The Boeing 787 also known as the Dreamliner has a maximum passenger capacity of 200 to 330 seats depending on the configuration of seats. To-date Polish Airlines has an inventory of 15 Boeing 787 aircrafts.
LOT’s fleet currently includes both the Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 787-9, which the airline describes as its flagship long-haul aircraft. Its charter division has also highlighted the Boeing 787’s role in enabling the carrier to undertake long-distance charter programmes for tour operators.
The seasonal service, linking Warsaw with Penang International Airport, is expected to run during the winter period and cater mainly to travellers from Poland and other parts of Europe looking to escape the cold weather for a tropical holiday.
The flights are expected to bring groups of visitors each week, with stays ranging from about a week to as long as three months, providing a potential boost to hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport operators and other tourism-related businesses.
The arrival of European visitors is particularly valuable during the winter months, when travellers from Poland and other northern European countries traditionally look for warmer destinations.
Industry players are hopeful that sustained demand for the charter service could eventually lead to further expansion of the European market, including additional charter programmes or more permanent air links.
With LOT’s Boeing 787 providing the long-haul connection between Warsaw and Penang, the new service marks another step in the state’s efforts to broaden its international tourism reach and strengthen Penang’s position as a regional destination for European travellers.
Meanwhile, according to reliable sources, most of the Polish travellers prefer to stay at beachfront properties like Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, PARKROYAL Penang, Hard Rock Hotel Penang and the Angsana Teluk Bahang.