Juneyao Air Launches Inaugural Flight From Shanghai To Tawau

 

TAWAU, SABAH— Juneyao Air marked a significant milestone today with the arrival of its inaugural flight from Shanghai to Tawau, further strengthening air connectivity between China and Sabah. 

The new route officially commenced operations, operating three times weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) with a capacity of 180 seats. The service is expected to cater to the growing demand for leisure travel from China while enhancing tourism flows and people-to-people exchanges between the two destinations. 

The inaugural flight was welcomed by Mr. Darryl Hamzah, representative from Tourism Malaysia, together with Mr. Rehan Shafiq Azizan, from Malaysia Airport Berhad and Ms. Shirly Ho, from Sabah Tourism Board. Also present was Mr Simon Ng, representing Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd, ground handler for Juneyao Air. 

“We warmly welcome Juneyao Air’s inaugural scheduled flight from Shanghai to Tawau. This new service strengthens connectivity between China and Malaysia through Sabah, providing greater convenience for travellers and supporting Sabah’s tourism growth during Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026),” said Mr Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia. 

The launch of this scheduled service forms part of broader efforts to strengthen inbound travel from China, a key source market for Malaysia, while enhancing air connectivity to East Malaysia. Tawau serves as a strategic gateway to Sabah’s east coast, providing access to renowned marine tourism destinations, eco-adventures and distinctive cultural experiences, most notably Semporna and its surrounding islands. 

China continues to play a critical role in Malaysia’s tourism landscape. This momentum is highlighted by robust performance from the Chinese market, which recorded 4.3 million visitor arrivals from January to November 2025, marking a 25.9 per cent year-on-year increase. Such figures underscore China’s enduring importance to Malaysia’s tourism expansion strategy and the overarching success of the VM2026 campaign. 

The introduction of the Shanghai–Tawau scheduled service supports Malaysia’s delivery of VM2026 by enhancing international accessibility and expanding connectivity to key tourism destinations in East Malaysia. Improved air links are expected to play a vital role in sustaining tourism momentum, encouraging repeat visits and positioning Sabah as a compelling destination for international travellers. These efforts will showcase Malaysia’s diverse attractions, rich culinary heritage, vibrant festivals and renowned hospitality. The added flight capacity supports ongoing initiatives to boost visitor arrivals and increase tourism spending from key source markets.

-Tourism Malaysia.