By V. Sivaji
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) has increased its flight frequency from two to three times weekly to Penang. The move reflects the potential and the continued development of air links between Yangon and Penang.
Sharing the much welcomed news was State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon during his speech at the Myanmar- Penang Tourism Partnership Session held at the Cititel Hotel here.
The session saw local tour and travel agents and their counterparts from Myanmar taking part in the B2B session.
Also present was Tanes Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Airways International, Penang Global Tourism (PGT) Chief Executive Officer Ooi Chok Yan, Ms Mary Ann Harris, Executive Director of PMED among other stakeholders.
“The increased flight frequency will offer travellers greater flexibility and convenience while creating more opportunities for travel operators to develop diverse tourism packages covering leisure holidays, medical tourism, family visits and business travel. Together, we can explore new opportunities and expand our reach into a wider market.
“With a flight time of approximately two hours between Yangon and Penang, the increased frequency to three flights per week offers travellers greater flexibility and convenience. This is certainly welcome news for ASEAN travellers who enjoy short-haul holidays and convenient regional travel.
“Improved air connectivity will not only facilitate two-way visitor flows between Myanmar and Penang, but also create greater opportunities for tourism operators on both sides to deepen collaboration and develop diverse travel packages,” shared Wong.
He also added that since the launch of the Yangon–Penang direct route on 10 April 2025, MAI had operated a total of 140 flights between Yangon and Penang as of 31 July 2026, carrying a cumulative total of 15,885 passengers.
“Notably, only 4% of these passengers were Malaysians, while the remaining 96% were passengers of Myanmar and other foreign nationalities.
“Penang and Myanmar share longstanding historical ties. Over the years, our connections have been nurtured through commercial networks, family and clan associations, and the preservation of cultural traditions. These enduring links provide a strong cultural and people-to-people foundation for the tourism cooperation we seek to strengthen today.
“One notable example is the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple, located along Burma Lane in Penang. Established in 1805, it has a history of more than 200 years. It is recognised as the oldest Burmese Buddhist temple outside Myanmar.
“In addition, several roads in Penang are named after cities and rivers in Myanmar, including Rangoon Road, Irrawaddy Road, Mandalay Road, Tavoy Road, Salween Road and Moulmein Road, Burma Lane, Solok Burma, etc. These names bear witness to the enduring historical connections between Myanmar and Penang. These historical traces tell the story of a friendship that has stood the test of time. Myanmar and Penang have a shared history as both ruled by the British. Myanmar (then called Burma) was ruled by the British from 1824 to 1948,” shared Wong.
Earlier, Tanes shared that MAI is also expanding its fleet of aircrafts from a total of 14 presently, to 20 aircrafts by the end of this year. This is in line with their expansion and new flight routes.
