Chongqing Flight Opens Sabah Door

Sabah has just launched its first direct air link with Chongqing, China, as a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 touched down in Kota Kinabalu on Thursday. The new route slashes travel time, eliminates the need for a Kuala Lumpur layover and opens a direct gateway for the 20-million-strong Chinese outbound market. Officials say the service is timed to ride the wave of interest generated by the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, aiming to lift visitor numbers to the state by double-digits. Beyond tourism, the flight is expected to spur ancillary sectors such as hospitality, retail and transport, injecting fresh revenue into the local economy.

Direct Chongqing-Kota Kinabalu service gives Sabah a fast track to China’s massive outbound tourism, boosting arrivals ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

The link plugs a long-standing connectivity gap, positioning Sabah as an easy-access destination for Chinese travellers. With China now the world’s largest source of outbound tourists, the route could drive a surge in bookings, diversify the state’s visitor base and generate much-needed economic momentum before the 2026 tourism push.