Penang welcomes first direct flight from Shanghai

HISTORY was made over the weekend in Penang as it witnessed the arrival of the first direct flight linking Shanghai and the state, which also marked the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic ties.

The celebrations began on Friday with a grand reception hosted by Penang-based Chinese Consul-General Zhou Youbin and attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow spoke of the growing ties that Penang enjoys with China in fields of trade, education, manufacturing and the services sector including tourism. Zhou touched on consolidating such ties through the special relationship both enjoy.

Penang is one of the major island-based economies in the region that have a significant Chinese migrant community besides Singapore.

China helped build the second Penang Bridge, the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge dual carriageway linking Bayan Lepas with Batu Kawan in Prai. The mammoth infrastructure was completed officially in 2014.

On Saturday, the state exco member who oversees tourism and the creative economy, Wong Hon Wai, welcomed the inaugural direct flight from Shanghai to Penang by China budget airliner Juneyao Airline at 11pm, which also marked the first arrival of the airline into Malaysia.

The airline has promoted Penang as the food capital of Southeast Asia with Teochew, Hakka, Hokkien, Cantonese, Nyonya, Malay and Indian cuisine in one place.

“The over five-hour flight offers a good opportunity for Penang to tap the potential of Shanghai, which is one of China’s biggest cosmopolitan cities,” said Wong.

“It also marked the state’s first foray into the northern region of China.”

This new route follows the recent launch of direct flights to Penang from Dubai by Flydubai in February, and from Bangkok by Thai Lion Air in April, making it the third new international direct flight into Penang this year.

Penang currently has direct flights to 15 international cities, including Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Medan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Haikou (charter flight) and Shenzhen (from July).

Penang is also working on opening a direct flight route from other cities, including Chennai, India, to the state this year-end, Wong said.

The state also has domestic flights to eight destinations – Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), KLIA2, Kuching, Kota Baru, Subang and Langkawi.

Wong said the airline connectivity is a big plus point to promote the state’s tourism, which is making a comeback after the lean years of Covid-19 lockdowns.

He added hotels in Penang saw up to seven million tourists last year. – June 3, 2024.