Penang seeks more China flights as holidays boost travel

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is seeking more direct air links with Chinese cities as an extended holiday period is expected to boost outbound travel from the country.

The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday runs from Sept 25 to 27, followed by the National Day Golden Week from Oct 1 to 7.

With the two holiday periods linked through adjusted working days and additional leave, Chinese travellers could have up to 13 consecutive days off.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai recently met representatives of several Chinese airlines based in Malaysia during a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering in Kuala Lumpur to discuss passenger loads, market trends and flight demand for Penang during the extended holiday period.

Wong said the discussions also focused on the winter flight schedule from the end of this year to early next year.

"Penang will continue consolidating existing routes while exploring new connections with Chinese cities not currently served by direct flights," he said.

Penang currently has direct connections with Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Qingdao through various airlines.

Hainan Airlines is also scheduled to launch a direct Haikou-Penang service on Oct 11, further expanding connectivity.

Wong said northern China remained an area with significant potential, with Qingdao currently the only city in the region offering a direct connection to Penang.

He said the state government had used the latest airline engagement to signal its interest in developing routes to more cities in northern China.

"This also lays a solid foundation for the next stage of discussions on the potential opening of direct flights between Penang and more cities in northern China," he said.