Malaysia Airlines is strengthening its presence in China through an expanded network, deeper digital partnerships and closer collaboration with the travel trade, building on growing demand between China and Malaysia while reinforcing Kuala Lumpur’s position as a gateway to Malaysia and the wider region.
The airline hosted its China Trade Gala on 22 September 2026 in Shanghai, bringing together travel trade leaders and corporate partners to celebrate shared achievements and reaffirm the airline’s long-term commitment to the market.
The event comes as Malaysia Airlines continues to see strong demand across its China network. In the first half of 2026, the airline carried more than 600,000 passengers on its China services, up 27% compared to the same period last year.
The airline expects to carry more than 52,000 passengers on services to and from China during the upcoming Golden Week holiday period (26 September – 11 October 2026), representing a 21% increase year-on-year.
In 2026, the airline restored daily services to Chengdu and introduced new daily flights to Shenzhen and Changsha. With these additions, Malaysia Airlines now serves nine gateways in China, complementing existing services to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Taipei.
The network will grow further through sister airline Firefly, which plans to commence daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Kunming, subject to regulatory approval. The route will establish a new direct link between Yunnan and Malaysia, supporting leisure, business, education and cultural travel while providing greater access to Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur gives travellers from China convenient access to destinations across Malaysia, ASEAN, South Asia, and Australasia. Through the Bonus Side Trip programme, Malaysia Airlines also makes it easier for travellers transiting through Kuala Lumpur to discover more of Malaysia.
Alongside its network expansion, Malaysia Airlines is strengthening its digital presence in China through partnerships with major technology and travel platforms.
