PENANG, 10 May 2018: China Airlines will start flying direct daily services from Taipei to the Malaysian holiday island of Penang, effective 7 June.
The move should raise Penang’s tourism profile in Taiwan and help tour operators to create more package tours.
This is the first direct service between Taipei and Penang and ends the need to fly via Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Hong Kong to reach the north Malaysian island.
It will immediately reduce the minimal travel time on the Taipei-Penang route from around seven hours to four hours.
It should also encourage Taiwanese tour operators to offer package holidays focusing just on Penang, rather than combining it with other destinations in the region.
But the fare remains high when compared with AirAsia a popular low-cost airline choice that will get you to Penang and back to Taipei for a roundtrip fare of USD272, with a stop in Kuala Lumpur.
China Airlines’ best offer is USD 544 and the fare jumps to USD 698 roundtrip when sold by Malaysia Airlines through a codeshare agreement. The direct flight takes four hours.
Last month, the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, told the Straits Times the new daily flights were the result of successful aviation talks between Malaysia and Taiwan.
China Airlines will use a Boeing 737-800 on the route with flights departing Taipei Taoyuan at 0810 and arriving in Penang at 1245.
The return flights will depart Penang at 1345 and arrive in Taipei at 1830
