PENANG secured the inaugural direct flight between Qingdao and Penang following a visit by state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai to China.
Flights are expected to begin on March 31 between the coastal-based cities.
The Chinese metropolis is located further north of the landmark cities such as Shanghai, towards the region of Japan and South Korea
Qingdao, archaically known as Tsingtao, is a prefecture-level city in the eastern Shandong province of China.
It is a major city of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that connects the continent and East Asia with Europe, with a status as a hub for commerce and industry.
The population exceeds seven million, making it the 15th largest city in China, with a strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
In conjunction with the launch, Wong led a state delegation to Qingdao, Shandong Province, to attend the “Qingdao–Penang direct flight launching and cooperation matchmaking event.
The visit aims to leverage the new route to further elevate tourism and economic collaboration between Penang and Qingdao, said Wong in a social media post.
Wong described the new route as a “vital air bridge” that marks a new chapter in deepening cooperation between Penang and Qingdao, as well as between Malaysia and China across tourism, trade and cultural exchanges.
Penang is now a preferred inbound destination for Chinese tourists, who are coming in droves to sample the touristy attractions, gastronomic heritage, and tap the state's economic prowess in manufacturing and services, including education.
It is believed that tourists from China and India top the list of foreign visitors to the "Pearl of the Orient" state.
“This is a significant and encouraging development. With the introduction of this route, Qingdao will become the northernmost city in China currently connected to Penang via direct flights,” said Wong.
Wong noted that Shandong Province, with a total population of 104.3 million, presents vast opportunities for economic cooperation and market expansion.
Beyond facilitating direct travel from Qingdao, this route is expected to serve as a gateway to other major cities across Shandong, including Yantai, Jinan, Zibo, Weifang, Weihai and Rizhao.
It will attract a broader pool of visitors from the province to Penang, generating substantial tourism-driven economic benefits."
The regional carrier, Qingdao Airlines, would be serving the direct route.
Wong also highlighted that Qingdao Airlines’ network extends beyond China to major cities in Northeast Asia, including Seoul, Jeju and Daegu in South Korea, as well as Osaka and Nagoya in Japan.
Gao Jian, the vice-mayor of the Qingdao Municipal Government, said in his speech that Malaysia is currently the third largest source of inbound tourists to Qingdao.
With the launch of the Qingdao–Penang direct flight, a single route will connect two vibrant cities, reducing travel time to a convenient same-day journey.
Looking ahead, Gao outlined three key areas of cooperation: strengthening economic and trade collaboration, deepening cultural and tourism exchanges, and fostering stronger people-to-people ties through multi-level engagement involving governments, businesses and civil society. - March 24, 2026.
