TAIWAN’s newest airline, Starlux Airlines, has chosen Penang as one of its three direct destinations for its maiden flight on Jan 23.
State Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee (PETACH) chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the state was proud to mark the beginning of ‘Experience Penang Year 2020’ with a new direct international flight by a new airline operating in Taiwan.
“The airline is confident in Penang’s tourism outlook and resources, and therefore chose Penang as one as one of the cities where they will begin with,” Yeoh told a press conference in Komtar today.
“The opening of new direct flights will benefit the industry and in turn create employment opportunities and generate revenue.
“Starlux has also employed locals here to facilitate arrangements for the flight commencement.
“The new direct flight will not only boost tourism in the state but also businesses between Penang and Taiwan. Just two months ago, Shenzhen Airlines commenced their direct flight from Shenzhen to Penang and we are working to keep up the momentum.”
Yeoh added that they were expecting the approval of the Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC) by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia for the landing permit by this week.
Taiwan, he said, remains one of the top three destinations for Penangites with no less than 130,000 of them going there annually.
Starlux Airlines Malaysia Branch general manager Hsu Chien-wen, who was at the press conference, said after conducting market survey, they found great potential in Penang.
“We hope to work together with YB Yeoh, PETACH and Penang Global Tourism to boost tourism and investment opportunities. We will be offering affordable prices,” Hsu said.
The other two cities that Starlux will ply direct from Taiwan are Macau and Da Nang (Vietnam).
He said Starlux would start off with one direct flight daily from Taoyuan International Airport to Penang International Airport, using Airbus A321neo which has eight business class seats and 180 economy class seats.
The flight time is about four and a half hours, from Taiwan to Penang (9.20am to 2pm) and from Penang to Taiwan (3pm to 7.45pm).
Currently, China Airlines is the only airline providing direct flights between Penang and Taiwan.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alvie Cheng