Nanjing-Tawau Charter Flight Strengthens China-Malaysia Air Connectivity

TAWAU (Malaysia), Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The launch of Firefly Airlines’ inaugural charter flight from Nanjing, China, to Tawau on Feb 3 marked a significant milestone in strengthening air connectivity between China and Malaysia while supporting the promotion of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), according to Tourism Malaysia.

Tourism Malaysia director general Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim said the introduction of the Nanjing–Tawau charter service highlights the strategic importance of expanding international air connectivity to key destinations across Malaysia.

“Improved direct access from major Chinese cities such as Nanjing enhances travel convenience while strengthening Malaysia’s positioning as a diverse and compelling destination in conjunction with VM2026.

“Initiatives like this play a vital role in sustaining tourism growth, increasing visitor arrivals and contributing to local economic development,” he said in a statement here on Monday.

The charter service operates twice weekly with a seat capacity of 176 passengers per flight and will run until the end of February 2026.

He added the initiative is expected to meet growing travel demand from the Chinese market while enhancing direct access to Tawau as a key gateway to Sabah’s east coast.

“Tawau serves as an important gateway to Sabah’s east coast, offering access to world-renowned marine tourism destinations, eco-adventure experiences and a rich cultural heritage,” he added.

Tourism Malaysia said the launch reflects strong collaboration between the agency and airline industry partners, with the support of Firefly Airlines, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), and Shanghai Eagle Aviation Service Co Ltd further strengthening joint promotional efforts to showcase Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings to travellers from Nanjing and the wider China market in support of VM2026.

The agency noted that China remains as one of Malaysia’s most important source markets.

“In 2025, Malaysia recorded 4.6 million visitor arrivals from China, reflecting strong outbound travel demand. During the same period, total international visitor arrivals reached 42.2 million, underscoring the sustained recovery and positive growth trajectory of the nation’s tourism sector,” it said.

For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s website www.tourism.gov.my and social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

-- BERNAMA