Malaysia Airports Strengthens China Connectivity At KLIA, Tawau To Support VM2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airports continues to expand international air connectivity with new airline services linking key cities in China to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Tawau Airport, in support of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
In a statement today, the airport operator announced that Shandong Airlines had launched its daily Jinan–Kuala Lumpur service, with the inaugural flight, SC8077, arriving at KLIA earlier this week.
“This new route provides passengers from Shandong province and surrounding regions with direct access to Malaysia’s principal gateway, while offering Malaysian travellers a convenient connection to experience the cultural heritage of the Qilu region,” it said.
Leveraging Shandong Airlines’ dual-hub operations in Jinan and Qingdao, Malaysia Airports said passengers could also enjoy seamless onward connectivity across China, supporting two-way travel growth as well as stronger tourism and economic exchanges.
Meanwhile, in East Malaysia, it said Tawau Airport had marked another connectivity milestone with the arrival of Juneyao Air’s inaugural scheduled service from Shanghai Pudong, operated using an A320neo aircraft under flight number HO1361.
The airline will operate three weekly flights until Oct 24, 2026.
“With this addition, Tawau Airport now serves seven airlines, offering direct connectivity to 10 destinations across four countries and handling an average of 39 flights daily,” it said.
The airport operator added that these new flight offerings reflect continued airline confidence in Malaysia’s aviation ecosystem and support Malaysia Airports’ broader strategy to strengthen international connectivity, diversify market access, and solidify Malaysia’s position as the most connected country by 2030.
-- BERNAMA