In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Penang has received and will continue to receive a new direct flight from a China city every month till the month of April this year..
Spring Airlines launched the Shanghai–Penang route on 30 January 2026, followed by the Guangzhou–Penang route on 1 February 2026. This will be followed by Qingdao Airlines commencing the Qingdao–Penang route on 31 March 2026, while Chongqing Airlines is scheduled to launch the Chongqing–Penang service on 8 April 2026.
Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, shared that according to statistics from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Malaysia’s airport network recorded 9.4 million passenger movements in January 2026, the opening month of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) led the country with 5.9 million passengers. Encouragingly, Penang International Airport (PEN) ranked second nationwide, registering 741,183 passenger movements and achieving a 3.8% year-on-year growth. This strong performance at the very start of VM2026 reflects Penang’s solid standing in Malaysia’s aviation landscape and sets a positive tone for the tourism year ahead.
“In addition, Penang’s China aviation network has continued to achieve significant breakthroughs at the start of Visit Malaysia 2026. Within the first four months of the year, Penang welcomed a new direct flight from a China city every month — a historic milestone in the state’s aviation development. This clearly demonstrates Penang’s strong appeal to the Chinese market and the steady enhancement of its air connectivity,” he said.
To further improve the efficiency and experience of arriving passengers, Penang International Airport completed facility upgrades ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year and officially activated the new MyNIISe autogate system. The system has already delivered tangible results, significantly reducing immigration clearance time.
Currently, the departure hall is equipped with five MyNIISe auto gates serving travellers from 73 countries and regions, while the arrival hall features six autogates for travellers from 65 countries and regions. Both halls are slated for expansion to 12 gates each within the year to accommodate growing passenger volumes.
“Following the implementation of the MyNIISe autogate system, travellers have experienced smoother and faster immigration clearance. International visitors in particular have shared positive feedback on social media, praising the efficiency of immigration procedures at Penang International Airport. Notably, more than 20 posts on the platform ‘Rednote’ have highlighted personal arrival experiences in Penang, with many users describing the process as smooth and impressively efficient. These testimonials affirm the success of the airport’s upgrades and further enhance Penang’s reputation among international tourists,” he added.
Beyond immigration improvements, Penang International Airport has also introduced a new ride-hailing waiting zone on the ground floor of the car park opposite the main terminal building to enhance last-mile connectivity for arriving passengers. The dedicated waiting area can accommodate up to 86 passengers and features an electronic display board providing real-time updates of arriving ride-hailing vehicle plate numbers, enabling travellers to easily track their rides. An air-conditioned waiting room ensures a comfortable environment.
Furthermore, a ride-hailing service counter operates daily from 6.00am to midnight, with staff on hand to assist travellers in booking vehicles via mobile applications. This initiative addresses previous inconsistencies in pick-up locations and further streamlines the overall arrival experience,” Wong said at a press conference in Komtar earlier this morning.