Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Wong Hon Wai, highlighted in the State Assembly yesterday that Penang is now connected to 12 international cities, marking a significant jump compared to two years ago.
He made the remarks during his winding-up speech, emphasising that preparations for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026 have been underway long before the official launch date.
According to Wong, the State Government’s strategic planning and continued efforts have opened a new chapter in Penang’s aviation landscape. Two years ago, Penang was linked to major international destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Medan, Singapore, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Phuket, Guangzhou, Taipei, Don Mueang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
In the past two years, Penang has expanded its reach by adding eight more international connections: Xiamen, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Dubai, Chennai, Yangon, and Doha.
Additionally, Penang now welcomes multiple chartered flights to cities such as Kunming, Haikou, Xi’an, and Chongqing—a reflection of the State Government’s continued commitment to boosting tourism arrivals ahead of VMY 2026 and the Malaysia Medical Tourism Year 2026.
“We did not wait for 1 January 2026 to start our work. Various initiatives have been rolled out over the past two years to strengthen Penang’s position as a premier tourism and medical tourism hub,” he said.
Looking ahead to Q4, several new routes and frequency increases will further enhance Penang’s international accessibility:
- Sichuan Airlines will increase its Chengdu–Penang service to daily flights.
- Hong Kong Express will upgrade its Hong Kong–Penang route from once daily to twice daily.
- TransNusa Airlines will launch its inaugural Jakarta–Penang flight on 24 November 2025.
- Batik Air will introduce new services from Medan–Penang and Singapore–Penang starting December 2025.
- Scoot will increase frequencies on its Singapore–Penang route.
- 9 Air has commenced charter flights from Haikou, China to Penang.
These developments signal Penang’s proactive approach in expanding air connectivity, reinforcing the state’s role as a key gateway for international travellers during Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
