GEORGE TOWN (Dec 27): China’s Loong Air will launch a new direct flight from Xi’an to Penang from Dec 30, marking a significant milestone in the growing tourism and aviation collaboration between Malaysia and China.

Tourism Malaysia deputy chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said the new route is another important addition to Penang’s international air network, following the recent introduction of a direct flight from Shanghai Pudong to Penang by Shanghai Airlines on Aug 1.

He added that the launch of the Xi’an-Penang direct flight is the result of efforts by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who visited China in 2023 and 2024 to persuade Loong Air to begin direct flights to Malaysia.

“During these visits, the minister, along with the Tourism Malaysia team, actively promoted the potential for such routes. The minister also led a delegation to Loong Air’s headquarters, where they engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the new routes,” Yeoh explained.

“Through collaboration with the Ministry of Transport (MOT), the process for foreign airlines to apply for routes was streamlined, providing crucial support for the introduction of these new flights,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Yeoh also emphasised that the launch of the Xi’an-Penang route is the result of strong collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the MOT.

Loong Air's new Xi’an-Penang route will be operated on an Airbus A320, with flights scheduled twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

Flight GJ8005 will depart from Xi’an at 1.30pm (local time) from the Xianyang International Airport and arrive in Penang at 7pm, with a flight duration of approximately five hours and 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, the return flight, GJ8006, will depart from Penang at 8pm and arrive in Xi’an at 12.50am (local time) the following day, with an estimated flight duration of four hours and 50 minutes.

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