Chengdu-Penang Route Generates Nearly RM30 Million In Tourism Benefits

GEORGE TOWN (Pulau Pinang, Malaysia), Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The Sichuan Airlines Chengdu-Penang direct flight route has carried approximately 54,700 passengers and generated nearly RM30 million in tourism economic benefits for Penang since its launch in May last year.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the route recorded 376 flights between May 1, 2025, and Aug 31, 2026, reflecting strong travel demand between Penang and Sichuan, China.

“The route, which initially operated five flights a week, was upgraded to a daily service from October 2025 following strong demand from travellers in both markets.

“These figures are not merely a reflection of the route’s strong operational performance, but also a clear indication of the growing momentum in tourism exchanges between Sichuan and Penang,” he said in his speech at the Sichuan Airlines-Penang 2027 Route and Sichuan Tourism Products Promotion programme here Wednesday.

Wong said the direct service had significantly strengthened connectivity between the two destinations, creating greater opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchanges, with Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, an important aviation hub in southwestern China, ranked among China’s top five airports in terms of passenger traffic in 2025.

He noted that Chengdu’s position as an important aviation gateway to southwestern China also provided strong transfer and network connectivity, enabling Penang to tap into a wider range of cities and markets through the regional hub.

“Passenger data showed that travellers arriving in Penang via Chengdu included those from Chinese cities such as Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Xuzhou, Jinan and Hangzhou, and the route also attracted passengers from international markets including Russia, Japan, Egypt, Turkiye, Italy, Spain, the United States and Canada,” he said.

-- BERNAMA