Penang’s first direct flight to Qingdao launches March 31, opening a new gateway to northern China and boosting tourism and trade ties.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang will launch its first direct flight to Qingdao, China on March 31. The new route, operated by Qingdao Airlines, marks a major step in enhancing air connectivity between Malaysia and China.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the route strengthens bilateral ties in tourism, trade and culture. He made the remarks while leading a state delegation to Shandong Province.
“With the introduction of this route, Qingdao will become the northernmost city in China currently connected to Penang via direct flights,” Wong said in a statement. “This important breakthrough reflects the steady northward expansion of Penang’s air connectivity with China.”
The route is expected to serve as a gateway to other major cities in Shandong province, which has a population of 104.3 million. It will also leverage Qingdao’s airport as a hub to connect to Northeast China cities like Harbin and Dalian.
Qingdao Airlines’ network further connects to major cities in South Korea and Japan. This positions Penang within the broader Northeast Asia market, strengthening regional connectivity.
Qingdao Vice Mayor Gao Jian said Malaysia is the third-largest source of inbound tourists to Qingdao. “With the launch of the direct flight, a single route will connect two vibrant cities and reduce travel time to a convenient same-day journey,” he said.
He outlined three key areas for cooperation: strengthening economic ties, deepening cultural exchanges, and enhancing people-to-people engagement.
