Julinus (right) and Guo (left) welcoming passengers on board Chongqing Airlines’ Flight OQ2193 at KKIA last night.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah marked a significant milestone in strengthening its China market presence with the arrival of its first direct flight from Chongqing last night.
The inaugural service by Chongqing Airlines landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) at 11.15pm, establishing a new direct link between the southwestern Chinese city and the state capital.
Operating three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the new route is expected to enhance travel flows in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The maiden flight, OQ2193, carried 154 passengers and was welcomed with a water cannon salute coordinated by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB). A cultural reception was also organised by Sabah Tourism Board (STB), with greeters in traditional attire presenting souvenirs to arriving passengers.
Among those present to welcome the flight were STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar and China Southern Airlines Kuala Lumpur Office General Manager Guo Hao.
With the introduction of Chongqing, Sabah is now directly connected to seven major cities in China — Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Fuzhou — reinforcing its position as a key destination in the Chinese outbound market.
Guo said the new Chongqing–Kota Kinabalu route would significantly reduce travel time and create more opportunities for tourism, business engagements and cultural exchanges between the two regions.
He noted that Kota Kinabalu, as the capital of Sabah, is well known for its island tourism offerings and tropical landscape, making it a popular destination among Chinese travellers.
The launch of the route underscores Sabah’s growing appeal as an international tourism destination and reflects ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity in support of Malaysia’s tourism ambitions for 2026.
STB said it will continue working closely with airline partners and industry stakeholders to expand connectivity and improve international access, while ensuring a seamless arrival experience for visitors.
Also present were STB Senior Deputy CEO Tay Shu Lan; China Southern Airlines KL Deputy Station Manager Yap Wei Kian; Sales Manager Low Yu Yang; Chongqing Airlines Flight Operation Department Deputy Manager Dai Xin; and MAHB KKIA Pass Officer Muhammad Hilmi Azwan Ahmad.
