PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has restarted direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the Greater China market, strengthening connectivity between Malaysia and western China, and supporting inbound tourism ambitions under Visit Malaysia 2026.
The inaugural flight, MH526, which departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport on Friday, saw strong demand, achieving an impressive load factor of 91%.
As a special tribute to the strong following of Manchester United among fans in Chengdu, the flight was operated using the airline’s Manchester United-themed aircraft livery, adding a celebratory touch to the occasion.
With the addition of Chengdu, Malaysia Airlines now serves seven destinations across Greater China, reflecting continued confidence in the market. Operating up to seven times weekly, the route is expected to support growing two-way travel demand and strengthen business and leisure connectivity and offer passengers seamless onward connections via Kuala Lumpur to destinations across Aseab, South Asia and Australasia.
The timing of the service aligns with the extension of mutual visa-free travel arrangements between Malaysia and China, enabling longer stays and encouraging greater travel flows between both countries.
The relaunch also highlights the broader strength of Malaysia-China relations across the Malaysia Aviation Group ecosystem, following MASkargo’s recent special cargo operation transporting Malaysia’s new giant pandas from Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur under the renewed bilateral conservation agreement.
