Penang targets new direct flights from another Indian city after Chennai route success, as Indian tourist arrivals surge more than 2.3 times in 2025.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is planning to introduce direct flights from another Indian city following the strong performance of its Chennai route.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said discussions have been held with IndiGo Airlines. “Following Chennai, there is strong potential for another Indian city to be directly connected to Penang,” he said.
An official announcement will be made once arrangements are finalised. Wong recently led a delegation to Chennai for the Simply Penang tourism roadshow.
The direct Chennai-Penang service by IndiGo was launched on Dec 21, 2024. It is the only direct air link between India and Penang.
The route has operated more than 770 flights, carrying over 100,000 passengers with an average load factor of around 70%. This performance has propelled India into Penang’s top 10 tourist source markets, where it currently ranks sixth.
In 2025 alone, 25,772 Indian tourists arrived via international flights at Penang International Airport. This represents an increase of more than 2.3 times compared to 2024.
The figure is also around 3.5 times higher than in 2023. Beyond air travel, cruise tourism from India has also shown strong growth.
From January to November 2025, 18,688 Indian cruise passengers arrived, making India the second-largest source market at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. Overall, total Indian visitor arrivals to Penang in 2025 exceeded 44,000.
Wong said the state will continue systematic engagement through targeted promotions. This includes Simply Penang roadshows in major Indian cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi and Chennai.
The delegation also engaged with key industry associations and local media. The aim is to position Penang as a preferred destination for leisure, business and MICE tourism.
