Penang welcomes inaugural winter charter flight from Poland

PENANG has welcomed its first winter charter flight from Warsaw, marking a new addition to Malaysia's international air travel.

The flight, operated by Rainbow Tours using a 293-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was part of the company's winter charter programme running from this month to March next year.

The seasonal direct service will operate once a week, providing greater accessibility for Polish holidaymakers visiting Malaysia during the European winter season.

The passengers were welcomed in a ceremony jointly organised by Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and Tourism Malaysia, together with tourism stakeholders and industry partners.

Among those present to welcome them were Polish embassy counsellor Mateusz Reszczyk, Honorary Consul of Poland in Penang Datuk Seri Suppiah Manikam and Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (promotions II) Lee Thai Hung.

Tourism Malaysia said the service reflected growing interest among Polish travellers in Malaysia's cultural heritage, tropical islands, nature-based attractions and gastronomy.

"The direct connection is expected to boost Penang's tourism sector. Poland has emerged as a promising source market for Malaysia within central and eastern Europe," it said.

Malaysia recorded 40,526 tourist arrivals from Poland, or an 8.3 per cent year-on-year increase, between January and September.

Tourism Malaysia said strategic partnerships with international tour operators were essential to expanding market reach and sustaining tourist arrivals under the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai had said last month the Warsaw-Penang service would serve as a stepping stone to establishing a presence in the European tourism market.