KUALA LUMPUR, February 20 – On February 11, 2024, Malaysia celebrated the arrival of a Malaysia Airlines charter flight from Shenyang, China, marking the onset of the Chinese New Year festivities. Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, along with representatives from Malaysia Airlines and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), extended a warm welcome to passengers on Flight MH8827, which carried 287 passengers aboard an Airbus A330 from Shenyang, located in Liaoning province, northeast China.
This special charter flight is part of the surge of new routes and charter flights from China introduced for the Chinese New Year and spring festival holiday season, starting from January 2024. Malaysia has seen the introduction of six charters to date, including routes by Firefly, Batik Air, and Malaysia Airlines, catering to the increased demand for travel during this festive period. In 2024, Malaysia has witnessed the addition of several new routes by both local and foreign airlines, further enhancing connectivity between Malaysia and China. These routes include China Eastern Airlines’ Beijing-Kuala Lumpur route, Loong Air’s Hangzhou-Kuala Lumpur route, Batik Air’s Kunming-Kuala Lumpur route, and an upcoming Batik Air route from Zhangjiajie to Kuala Lumpur.
The announcement of visa-free entry for Chinese travelers effective December 1, 2023, has significantly boosted interest and bookings to Malaysia from China, with Trip.com reporting a 53.9% increase in inbound travel to Malaysia for the Chinese New Year in 2024 compared to the previous year. In 2023, Malaysia experienced remarkable growth in arrivals from China, welcoming 1.47 million visitors, reflecting a 593.4% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
