Penang has welcomed its first direct flight from Haikou, with Hainan Airlines’ inaugural service landing at Penang International Airport and receiving a ceremonial water salute.
State Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy Wong Hon Wai led the welcome at the airport on 11 October, joined by Hainan Airlines representatives, tourism industry players and delegations from Hainanese associations and chambers of commerce.
Haikou becomes the ninth city in China with a scheduled direct service to Penang. “Haikou becomes the 9th city in China with a scheduled direct flight to Penang, marking another important step in our efforts to expand Penang’s presence in the China tourism market,” Wong said. The route extends Penang’s air links to Hainan, China’s southernmost province, and strengthens connections with South China.
China is currently Penang’s second-largest source market for tourism, with considerable room to grow. The new service gives travellers from Hainan a more convenient option for holidays, family visits and business, and allows tourism operators on both sides to develop joint travel products and broaden their visitor markets.
Flight HU477 departed Haikou Meilan International Airport at 5.30pm on 11 October and arrived in Penang at 8.28pm carrying 110 passengers. The return service, HU478, left Penang at 9.45pm the same evening, bound for Haikou. The route operates twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Penang and Hainan have maintained friendly state-province relations since 2013, while Penang Island and Sanya established friendly-city ties in 2017. Wong said the scheduled service builds an air bridge between the two sides and opens a more convenient channel for city-level exchanges and cooperation.
Wong pointed to the complementary economic strengths of both destinations. “The Hainan Free Trade Port is an important platform for China’s opening-up. Penang, meanwhile, is a major electronics manufacturing centre, semiconductor hub and regional logistics gateway in Malaysia. With each destination offering distinct industrial strengths, there is considerable potential to explore further economic and trade cooperation,” he said.
He said the route can also support strategic cooperation between Penang and the Free Trade Port, spanning trade, industrial collaboration, supply chains and logistics connectivity, building on the longstanding relationship between the two sides.
Wong said the new air route matters at a time of geopolitical tension and uncertainty in international tourism markets. He said the state government will continue working with airlines to expand international routes serving Penang, and that the state must plan ahead for the increased capacity and long-term development that will follow the completion of the Penang International Airport expansion project.
