Direct flights from China to Penang have dropped by nearly 25% since the start of the year, but Chinese tourist arrivals remain strong, according to state tourism chairman Wong Hon Wai.
Weekly services between Penang and eight Chinese cities fell from a record 82 earlier this year to 62 by the end of May, [The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/01/china-tourists-still-flocking-to-penang-despite-reduction-in-flights) reported. The reduction came after airlines cut flight frequencies in response to rising aviation fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict that began in February.
Wong told [Pocket News](https://www.pocketnews.com.my/2026/04/15/flight-adjustments-reflect-global-trend-amid-rising-costs-says-yb-wong/) in April that the adjustments reflected a broader global trend, with airlines consolidating flights or cancelling services based on passenger demand and operational costs.
Despite the decline in seat capacity, Wong estimated that about 10,000 Chinese tourists still arrive in Penang each month on direct flights. His estimate is based on 62 weekly flights, each with a capacity of 170 passengers, operating at a load factor of about 50%.
He said Chinese tourists make up roughly half the passengers on these routes. The figure does not include travellers who reach Penang through Kuala Lumpur or transit via Singapore and other cities.
Wong said the state expected travel within Asia to stay steady as travellers chose shorter regional holidays instead of long-haul trips disrupted by the conflict. He added that Penang Global Tourism will launch its “Fall in Love with Penang” campaign on 4 August, ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday from 1 to 8 October.
“We are eager to see how China’s Golden Week holiday will boost arrivals,” Wong said.
HK Express chief commercial officer KK Ong said higher fuel surcharges had not significantly affected passenger demand on the Hong Kong-Penang route. He said the surcharge was fixed at the point of ticket purchase, meaning passengers who bought tickets earlier were not required to pay the difference if fuel prices rose later.
“The surcharge is only one component of the airfare on top of the base fare and options like baggage, seat selection and meals,” Ong said.
HK Express has carried more than 250,000 passengers on its Hong Kong-Penang route since it began in November 2024. Ong said the route performed strongly this year, with more than a third of passengers on the Penang service coming from mainland China through Hong Kong.
Passenger numbers from China grew by almost 50% year-on-year, driven by the mutual visa waiver between Malaysia and China. Ong said travellers increasingly sought slower holidays centred on culture, heritage and food, placing Penang in a strong position to benefit from the trend.
The current services link Penang with Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and Qingdao.
