Malaysia Airlines expands China network as passenger traffic rises 27pc

Malaysia Aviation Group president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar says China remains a priority growth market as Malaysia Airlines expands its network and partnerships in the country. — Picture courtesy of Malaysia Airlines

First Published: Thursday, 24 Sep 2026 2:23 PM MYT

SHANGHAI, Sept 24 — Malaysia Airlines is stepping up its push into China with more routes and deeper digital partnerships, as passenger traffic across its China network jumped 27 per cent in the first half of 2026.

In a statement today, the national carrier said it flew more than 600,000 passengers on its China services during the six-month period, recording an average load factor of 84 per cent.

It expects to carry more than 52,000 passengers during the Golden Week holiday period from September 26 to October 11, up 21 per cent from a year earlier.

“China is a priority growth market for Malaysia Airlines, and the expansion of our network to nine gateways reflects our confidence in its long-term potential,” Malaysia Aviation Group president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar said.

Malaysia Airlines has expanded its network further into China this year, restoring daily services to Chengdu and introducing new daily flights to Shenzhen and Changsha.

With those additions, the airline says its China network now spans nine gateways, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Taipei.

Sister airline Firefly is also planning daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Kunming, subject to regulatory approval, creating another direct connection between Malaysia and China.

Nasaruddin said the airline would continue positioning Kuala Lumpur as a gateway to Asia and beyond as MAG enters its next phase of growth under its Long-Term Business Plan 3.0.

“We will continue to position Kuala Lumpur as a gateway to Asia and beyond, while investing in the network, fleet, operating capabilities and locally relevant partnerships needed to serve Chinese travellers at scale,” he said.

Beyond adding flights, Malaysia Airlines is also expanding its presence within China’s digital travel ecosystem through memoranda of understanding with Huawei, Weixin Pay and TravelSky Technology Limited.

The partnerships cover digital platforms, customer engagement and distribution, with the airline saying they are intended to make it easier for travellers to find and book flights, access travel information and interact with Malaysia Airlines through platforms familiar to Chinese consumers.

The broader strategy is aimed at using Kuala Lumpur as a gateway for Chinese travellers to destinations across Malaysia, Asean, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand, while supporting the country’s Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism campaign.