Ticket available for sales now
GEORGE TOWN- Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, YB Wong Hon Wai announced another exciting news to the tourism industry in Penang. Shenzhen Airlines officially commences sales for direct flight between Penang and Shenzhen. The inaugural flight is scheduled to land in Penang on the 27th of July 2024, Saturday.
Flight ZH335 from Shenzhen to Penang will depart from Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport at 8:05 a.m. local time and is expected to arrive at Penang International Airport at 12:00 noon local time with a flight duration of approximately 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Flight ZH336 from Penang to Shenzhen will depart from Penang International Airport at 1:00 p.m. local time and is expected to arrive at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport at 4:40 p.m. local time with a flight duration of approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes.
The direct flight will be operated with Airbus A320 series aircraft, the thrice-weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays aim to provide a more convenient and flexible travel option for people of both Shenzhen and Penang. Moreover, as economically developed cities, both Shenzhen and Penang offer abundant business and investment opportunities. The launch of this direct flight route facilitates easier communication and collaboration between the business communities, investors, and entrepreneurs of the two cities, fostering economic cooperation and development.
Additionally, both Shenzhen and Penang are popular tourist destinations with unique attractions and cultural charm, attracting visitors from around the globe. The introduction of this direct flight route will facilitate a more convenient travel route between Shenzhen and Penang, enhancing the vitality of the tourism industries in both cities.
Notably, the inaugural flight on the 27th July 2024, coincides with the annual Penang Bon Odori Festival. Passengers arriving in Penang at noon can take part in this lively Japanese cultural celebration after a brief rest, adding to the festive atmosphere of the occasion.
Furthermore, the weekend of July 27 and 28, marks the final two days of 2024 George Town Festival with the theme “Here & Now”. Thus, the inaugural flight from Shenzhen to Penang coincides perfectly with this cultural extravaganza, providing passengers from Shenzhen with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts scene of Penang.
Moreover, the opening of the Shenzhen-Penang direct flight route aligns with the durian season in Penang. While the first wave of durian harvest has begun, the second wave is expected to continue from mid-June to July. The commencement of the Shenzhen-Penang direct flight route on the 27th July 2024, coincides with Penang’s third wave of durian harvest this year, providing travellers with the opportunity to indulge in this delicacy.
Penang currently has direct flights connecting to 15 international cities, including Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Doha, and charter flights from Haikou, with the 16th international city, Shanghai, commencing its inaugural flight on Friday, 31st of May 2024. The Shenzhen-Penang direct flight route will be the 17th direct flight route to Penang.
Throughout the year, numerous favorable announcements regarding direct flights from China to Penang have contributed to the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations. For instance, China Southern Airlines has doubled its weekly flights from Guangzhou to Penang from 7 to 14, while prior to the inaugural flight on Friday, Juneyao Airlines announced the upgrade of its Shanghai-Penang route from 4 flights per week to daily flights starting 22nd of June 2024. Additionally, Cathay Pacific, which originally operated 4 flights per week from Hong Kong to Penang, will increase its frequency to 7 flights per week from June 2024.
China has always been one of the key markets for Penang’s tourism industry and one of the top three arrival countries. With the warm hospitality of the people of Penang, coupled with fluent Chinese communication and a wide variety of Penang delicacies beloved by Chinese gourmands, as well as its diverse and rich cultural heritage and historic landmarks, Penang has always been a sought-after tourist destination for Chinese travellers. Therefore, the newly opened Shenzhen-Penang direct flight route is expected to greatly benefit Penang’s tourism industry, bringing in more opportunities and revenue.
