Penang, Aug. 14, 2024 – HK Express Airways officially announced the start of direct flights between Hong Kong and Penang, with services scheduled to begin on November 21, 2024. This announcement would greatly benefit Penang’s tourism and economic sectors. Penang State EXCO for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, made the news today.
UO748—the new direct flight—will take off at 8:10 p.m. local time from Hong Kong International Airport and land at Penang International Airport at 12:10 a.m. At 12:45 AM, UO749, the returning aircraft, will depart Penang and land in Hong Kong at 4:40 AM. The goal of this daily service is to improve connectivity and give travellers between the two cities more ease.
Wong Hon Wai emphasized that the launch of this route comes after a fruitful meeting he had in mid-June while visiting Hong Kong with KK Ong, the commercial director, and Jeanette Mao, the CEO of HK Express Airways. Strengthening cultural and tourism relations between Penang and Hong Kong was the main topic of conversation during this visit with Raistlin Lau, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
“The Penang State Government welcomes this new direct flight route, which will further enhance our connectivity with Hong Kong, creating new opportunities for tourism and economic collaboration between the two cities,” stated Wong.
Direct flights are currently offered by Cathay Pacific and AirAsia between Hong Kong and Penang; Cathay Pacific offers daily service and AirAsia offers three weekly flights. These choices will be enhanced with the launch of the new HK Express service, giving passengers more flexibility and capacity.
Wong underlined the unexplored potential of the Hong Kong market, pointing out that Penang’s tourism industry stands to gain significantly from the city’s 7.5 million inhabitants. He also highlighted the Greater Bay Area’s wider potential. With 86 million residents, it currently has direct flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Penang.
Penang is a popular travel destination for visitors, business travellers, and students due to its close linguistic and cultural ties to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, Wong continued. “Our multilingual population and rich cultural heritage offer a unique experience that blends Eastern and Western traditions.”
In the first half of 2024, Penang saw a noteworthy 25.78% rise in foreign visitor visits compared to the same time in 2023. Just the number of Chinese visitors has increased by 244.21%, indicating a spike in interest in the area. Wong was upbeat that the new HK Express route would increase these figures even more and strengthen Penang’s position as a top tourist destination.
Penang’s status as a major entry point to Southeast Asia will be cemented with the inclusion of this new route, which brings its total to 32 international direct flight destinations. Through PETACE, the Penang State Government pledges to keep working with airlines to maximize the flight network and maintain Penang’s appeal as a convenient and traveller-friendly location for foreign visitors.
The introduction of the HK Express direct flight is anticipated to increase Penang’s allure by providing tourists with convenient access to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Penang Hill, the George Town World Heritage Site, and other attractions. Wong urged tourists to discover Penang’s unique blend of modern development, historical charm, and rich cultural history before she ended.
Awesome Article, This direct flight from Penang to Hong Kong is a game-changer! Kudos to the Penang state government for making international travel so much easier for us. Can’t wait to explore Hong Kong