KUALA LUMPUR – Stronger and more frequent air links between Malaysia and China are emerging as a key driver in sustaining the steady rise of visitor arrivals from the republic, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing said.
He said the expansion of routes and increased flight frequencies by major Chinese carriers signal growing confidence in Malaysia as a prime destination, particularly in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026.
“Air connectivity is fundamental to tourism growth. When we improve accessibility through direct and high-frequency flights, we make Malaysia more attractive and convenient for travellers,” he said in a statement.
According to the latest schedules, China Eastern will continue to scale up its Malaysia services during the 2025 winter season, drawing on an extensive network of major Chinese cities. Its subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, now operates Malaysia-bound routes from Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xi’an and Kunming.
Beyond Kuala Lumpur, the carrier also operates direct services from Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu and Penang. Most of these routes operate daily, with selected services temporarily increased during peak periods such as the Chinese New Year to manage heightened travel demand.
Tiong said the overall Malaysia–China air network has expanded from 82 to 106 routes following the latest additions and frequency upgrades. Based on current schedules, total round-trip flights between the two countries have reached 424 services over a four-week period.
“The expanded route map now covers key regions across East, North, Northwest and Northeast China, enabling passengers to fly more conveniently and directly to Malaysia’s main tourism gateways, including Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Penang,” he said.
He added that the strengthened connectivity not only supports visitor flows into Peninsular Malaysia but also enhances access to Sabah and Sarawak, improving the country’s overall capacity to receive and disperse international tourists.
Meanwhile, Xiamen Air will further boost capacity along the Malaysia–China corridor. From March 13 to 28, 2026, the airline will increase its Kuala Lumpur–Nanjing service to daily operations, enhancing nonstop connectivity between the two cities.
Juneyao Air is also set to launch a new nonstop Wuxi–Kuala Lumpur route on March 19, 2026, operating three times weekly, while Spring Airlines continues to maintain and expand its low-cost services between key Chinese cities and Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Tiong said the continuous optimisation of routes and added seat capacity will help ensure smoother travel experiences, attract more Chinese visitors seeking cultural, culinary and eco-tourism offerings, and contribute to stronger tourism spending as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026. -MalayaDailyToday
