9 Air To Launch Haikou-Penang Charter Flights On Nov 18

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Chinese low-cost carrier 9 Air will launch a charter direct flight route between Haikou, Hainan and Penang beginning Nov 18, further strengthening air connectivity between the two destinations.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the Haikou-Penang route will initially operate as a charter service, with the potential to be developed into a regular scheduled flight in the future.

“The route is scheduled to operate three flights per week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Haikou-to-Penang flight, designated AQ1297, will commence on Nov 18, departing from Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) at 1.15 am and arriving at Penang International Airport (PIA) at 5.35 am.

“Meanwhile, the Penang-to-Haikou flight, designated AQ1298, will also commence on Nov 18, departing from PIA at 6.35 am and arriving at HAK at 10 am,” he said in a statement today.

Wong said the launch of the new charter service comes shortly after Penang hosts the 18th World Hainanese Congress from Nov 14 to 16, an event that will welcome Hainanese leaders and guests from around the world.

He noted that Penang and Hainan established a friendly state-province relationship in 2013, followed by a friendly city relationship between Penang Island and Sanya City in 2017.

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With the launch of 9 Air’s Haikou-Penang direct flight, Penang’s air connectivity with Southern, Western and Southwestern China has been further expanded, providing a more convenient aerial bridge for tourism, trade and cultural exchanges between the two regions, he added.

-- BERNAMA