Direct flights to connect Kota Kinabalu and Chinese cities

In a significant move to enhance air connectivity and foster tourism between Malaysia and China, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing announced an upcoming pilot project involving chartered direct flights.

Revealing this on Facebook, Tiong said improving air connectivity between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China is a major direction and priority for his ministry

Set to take off during the 2024 Lunar New Year season, these flights will connect Kota Kinabalu with six cities in China.

Connecting Malaysia and China

Minister Tiong King Sing emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to improving air connectivity between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China, after productive discussions.

A pilot project and trial programme featuring multiple chartered flight routes will be implemented to enhance connectivity between crucial destinations in China and Malaysia.

Avic Ark Airline Service Co Ltd (AAA) will charter flights in partnership with AirAsia, connecting Ningbo, Nanjing, Hefei, Hangzhou, Nanchang, and Fuzhou to Kota Kinabalu.

From March 2024, AAAS will also start chartered flights from Changsha and Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with Batik Air.

Direct flights project for enhanced connectivity

The chartered flight routes will operate as a pilot project and trial programme, aiming to strengthen connectivity between key destinations in China and Malaysia.

A total of 42 flights will serve six Chinese cities with direct connections to Sabah, with additional routes from Changsha and Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur expected from March 2024.

At the same time, Tourism Malaysia is also tasked to explore possibilities for more routes to Sarawak.

As part of the initiative, Tourism Malaysia is exploring further possibilities for additional routes to Sarawak. A delegation from the Ministry is currently in a sales mission in key Chinese markets, including Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and more.

This mission not only promotes tourism but also takes advantage of the new 30-day visa-free entry policy, creating a tourist-friendly environment. The overarching goal is to lay the groundwork for economic growth and revitalize the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.