Malaysia Airlines is deepening its engagement in China as it seeks to gain from the travel demand across the cities, 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, with an average load factor of84%. The airline said it 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.
Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG),said: “China is a priority growth market for Malaysia Airlines, and the expansion of our network to nine gateways reflects our confidence in its long-term potential. The progress we are marking has been made possible by the trust of our customers and the close collaboration of our government, travel trade, corporate and industry partners.”
In 2026, the airline restored daily services to Chengdu and introduced new daily flights to Shenzhen and Changsha, extending its reach across Western China, the Greater Bay Area and Central China. With these additions, Malaysia Airlines now serves nine gateways in China, complemented by existing services to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Taipei.
During its trade event in China, the airline formalised three Memoranda of Understanding with Huawei, Weixin Pay, and TravelSky Technology Limited. The collaborations span digital platforms, customer engagement and distribution, supporting deeper integration with the ecosystems widely used by Chinese consumers, while extending the airline’s local market reach.
The partnerships it added will make it easier for travellers to discover and book Malaysia Airlines’ services, access relevant travel information and engage with the airline through familiar channels – extending the customer journey beyond the airport and into the digital platforms where travel planning begins.
