Penang will welcome its first-ever direct flight from Qingdao, China, come this 31st March, 2026.
The route, operated by Qingdao Airlines, marks a new chapter in air connectivity between the two cities. To support this milestone, Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai led a state delegation to Qingdao, Shandong, at the invitation of the Qingdao Municipal Government, to attend the “Qingdao–Penang Direct Flight Launch and Cooperation Matching Conference,” aimed at strengthening tourism and economic collaboration between the two cities.
“The launch of Qingdao Airlines’ direct flight to Penang not only builds an aerial bridge between Penang and Qingdao, but also marks a new starting point for deeper cooperation between Penang, Qingdao, Shandong, and even Malaysia and China in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. This is both significant and inspiring.
“With the launch of this route, Qingdao will become the northernmost Chinese city currently connected to Penang by direct flights. This breakthrough signifies that Penang’s aviation network connecting to China is steadily expanding from south to north, with increasingly comprehensive coverage and multidimensional connectivity,”
Wong noted that according to data from the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Statistics, Shandong’s population reached 100.43 million by the end of 2025.
“The new route will not only make it easier for Qingdao residents to travel directly to Penang, but will also extend its reach to other major cities in Shandong such as Yantai, Jinan, Zibo, Weifang, Weihai, and Rizhao—bringing more tourists from the province to Penang and generating substantial tourism revenue.” said Wong in hi speech.
He also added that Qingdao Airlines also operates routes connecting Qingdao to key northeastern Chinese cities such as Harbin, Changchun, Yanji, and Dalian. With the launch of the Qingdao–Penang direct flight, Penang can leverage Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport as a hub to enhance connectivity with China’s three northeastern provinces, transforming access from ‘reachable’ to ‘seamless’ and strengthening overall integration. This will significantly expand Penang’s reach into northern China.
“Qingdao Airlines’ network also extends to major cities in South Korea and Japan, including Seoul, Jeju, Daegu, Osaka, and Nagoya. This means the Qingdao–Penang route will not only connect Shandong and northeastern China, but also link Penang more closely with the broader Northeast Asian market.” he added.
At the conference, multiple cooperation agreements were signed between representatives from Penang and Qingdao, including collaborations in business, tourism, education, and logistics.
“These agreements lay a solid foundation for future cooperation in economic, trade, tourism, education, and logistics sectors between Penang and Qingdao. We also hope they will encourage more enterprises and institutions from both sides to collaborate and achieve mutual benefits.” he said.
Meanwhile, Qingdao Vice Mayor Gao Jian said in his speech that Malaysia is the third-largest source of inbound tourists to Qingdao.
“With the launch of this direct flight, the journey between the two cities will be shortened to a convenient same-day trip. It marks a transition from aspiration to real connection. Today’s conference also provides a high-level platform for economic exchange, cultural interaction, and people-to-people connectivity,” she said.
She outlined three key prospects for future cooperation: namely, Strengthening economic and trade ties, encouraging two-way investment, and integrating industrial and supply chains, Enhancing cultural and tourism exchanges, making spontaneous travel between the two cities a reality and Promoting people-to-people connections through multi-level engagement among governments, businesses, youth, think tanks, and media.
At the event, Wong also promoted Penang to Qingdao’s travel industry players in attendance.
“Although Penang and Qingdao differ in style, they share similarities in their tourism appeal. Qingdao is famous for Zhanqiao Pier, where visitors stroll along the pier, feed seagulls, and enjoy scenic sea views. Penang, on the other hand, is known for its Esplanade seawall and coastal promenade, which won UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage awards in 2025, making it a popular destination for visitors.”
“Qingdao’s German-style red-roofed buildings reflect its rich history, while Penang is renowned for its seaside charm and colonial-era architecture blending British, Chinese, and Nanyang influences. Despite their differences, both cities share a strong maritime character and cultural depth.” he added.
Source – Penang State Tourism Office