EIGHT new direct flights and 11 chartered flights involving Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and airlines from mainland China will commence this year, said federal Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The new exciting destinations in China are Xian, Urumqi Wenzhou, Tunxi and Shijiazuang, he announced in his social media updates.
"China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines will be operating the Xian-KLIA and Urumqi-KLIA routes.
"Aside from these new flights from China to Malaysia, we will also be offering new Muslim-friendly packages that are being introduced in Malaysia for Chinese nationals who are Muslims.
"Malaysia can be a tourism destination as well as a transit hub for them who are enroute to their Haj and Umrah pilgrimages," he said.
Also, in the planning this year are direct China flights to Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Tawau, he said.
The new flights from Chinese cities to these Borneo states will be launched very soon, he added. Tiong said his ministry is establishing new connections not just with China but also Europe and middle east countries.
These are also in line with promotional efforts for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, he added. – March 30, 2025
