PENANG: Penang’s tourism sector received a significant boost on Friday with the arrival of Spring Airlines’ inaugural direct flight from Shanghai, reinforcing the state’s growing popularity among Chinese travellers and strengthening air connectivity ahead of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The flight landed at Penang International Airport at 2.22 pm with 174 passengers on board, marking the official commencement of Spring Airlines’ daily Shanghai–Penang service.
Speaking at the inaugural flight reception, Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai said the launch of the direct route reflected strong confidence in Penang’s tourism market and highlighted the pivotal role China now plays in driving visitor growth.
“This new route is more than an additional air connection. It represents a strategic bridge that enhances tourism, cultural exchange and people-to-people ties between Penang and China,” he said.
Wong noted that China officially became Penang’s second-largest international source market in 2025, overtaking Singapore. More than 40 per cent of Penang’s overall increase in tourist arrivals last year was contributed by visitors from China, underscoring the market’s growing importance.
He added that Penang International Airport recorded 7.9 million passenger movements in 2025, a 5.8 per cent increase compared with 2024, signalling a strong and sustained post-pandemic recovery.
The Shanghai–Penang route, operated daily by Spring Airlines, will be complemented by the airline’s upcoming Guangzhou–Penang service, which begins operating three times weekly from Feb 1. With these additions, Penang is now connected to six major Chinese cities through scheduled direct flights operated by 10 airlines.
Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, speaking on behalf of Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said the new route aligns with national efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s air connectivity with China in support of Visit Malaysia 2026.
“The daily direct service from Shanghai enhances accessibility for travellers from Eastern China and reinforces Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for Chinese visitors,” he said.
Yeoh highlighted Malaysia’s strong tourism performance in 2025, with 42 million international visitor arrivals, representing an 11.2 per cent increase year-on-year. Of this total, 4.7 million visitors were from China, reaffirming China as Malaysia’s second-largest source market.
He said the continued growth was supported by improved air connectivity, visa-free travel arrangements and Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings, including cultural heritage, culinary tourism, business travel and medical tourism.
The inaugural event was attended by several industry and association leaders, including Dato Khoo Boo Lim of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) National, Dato Tony Goh of the MAH Penang Chapter, Andy Lau from the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MYBHA) Penang Chapter, and Dr Anwar representing the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Penang.
Both state and national tourism officials expressed confidence that the new Shanghai–Penang route, together with expanded services from Guangzhou, would drive sustained visitor growth, deepen tourism exchanges between Malaysia and China, and contribute to long-term tourism development in Penang.
