GEORGE TOWN, Sept 23 — Penang’s tourism sector is set for a significant boost, with Batik Air launching a new direct flight from Singapore this December and HK Express increasing its Hong Kong service to twice daily from Oct 26.
Hailing the announcements, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the new and expanded services will significantly spur the state’s tourism industry.
“Singapore has long been one of Penang’s top three markets for visitors,” Wong said in a statement today, noting that the strength of the Singapore dollar gives these visitors strong spending power.
Wong highlighted the strategic importance of these routes by referencing 2024 data from Airports Council International (ACI), which ranked Hong Kong International Airport 9th globally in total passenger traffic and Singapore’s Changi Airport 15th.
“This shows that both Singapore and Hong Kong are highly influential aviation hubs worldwide,” he said.
He said that the additional flights by Batik Air and HK Express will further strengthen Penang International Airport’s position in the international route network.
“More frequent flights not only make it easier for visitors from Hong Kong and Singapore to come to Penang, but also provide travellers from all over the world with more convenient connections to Penang through these two hubs,” Wong said.
He added that these new and expanded routes also symbolise closer ties between Penang and the two cities, which will bring more business opportunities for local tourism operators and SMEs.
