More and more direct flights to Penang International Airport (PIA) augers well for Experience Penang 2020 and Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

This is following Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines flying here from Jan 23 and also AirAsia’s direct flight to Chengdu, China from March 8, 2020.

“The “Landing Permit” and the “Foreign Air Operator Permit” has both been approved for Starlux Airlines and Air Asia.

“We have been coordinating with the Malaysia Civil Aviation Authority for the successful issuance of the permits.It is now official that the inaugural flght of Starlux Arlines will be on Jan 23, 2020.” said Penang Exco for Tourism, Ats Culture and Heritage Yeoh Soon Hin in a press statement.

He also added that his office has been working on the permits for the past eight months and also helping the new airline to set up their new office at the PIA.

“We also would like to thank CAAM and the PIA for their cooperation for the commencement of the direct flight route. Our hard work has borne fruit,” said Yeoh.

Meanwhile, Air Asia’s direct flight from PIA to Chengdu, China will be from March 8, 2020. They will fly at a frequency of three times a week.

The flight departs from Penang at 10.55pm every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and arrives in Chengdu at 2.55am.

On the other hand, Air Asia flies from Chengdu to Penang every Monday, Thursday and Saturday by departing at 3:55am and arriving in Penang at 8.15am.

“Last February, I led a delegation to visit the deputy mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government to discuss collaboration opportunities and the intention to open up a direct flight.

“Upon my return to Penang, I continued to follow up with the Chinese Government. The deputy mayor of Chengdu also paid a courtesy visit to the Penang Government last October where we discussed further the objective to secure a direct flight connecting both cities,” said Yeoh.

He added that this is a golden opportunity for tour agents to offer new tourism packages to attract China nationals to travel to Penang and likewise, which would promote the flight further in hope of the flight frequency being increased to daily.

He pointed out that the direct flight would boost state effort to penetrate the Western China tourism market which holds high tourism potential.

“We are gradually opening more tourism market in the northern region of China and has successfully wooed a Beijing travel agency to conduct tour groups to Penang from Beijing, China, since last September,” added Yeoh.