Penang: Tourism Malaysia welcomed the inaugural flight from Shanghai to Penang by Spring Airlines (9C), marking a significant milestone in strengthening air connectivity between China and Malaysia. Officially commenced on 30 January 2026, the new route operates daily using an Airbus A320 9C7259 aircraft with a capacity of 186 passengers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the service is designed to meet the growing demand for both leisure and business travel, while enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. This development aligns with Malaysia's efforts to attract more Chinese visitors as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign. The increased connectivity is expected to significantly boost tourism, providing a seamless travel experience for Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia.