GEORGE TOWN: Penang has welcomed its first winter charter flight from Warsaw, Poland, marking a new addition to Malaysia’s international air connectivity.
The flight, operated by Rainbow Tours using a 293-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is part of the company’s winter charter programme running from November 2026 to March 2027.
The seasonal direct service will operate once a week, providing greater accessibility for Polish holidaymakers visiting Malaysia during the European winter season.
The arrival was marked by a welcoming ceremony jointly organised by Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and Tourism Malaysia, together with tourism stakeholders and industry partners.
Among those present to welcome the passengers were Embassy of the Republic of Poland counsellor Mateusz Reszczyk, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Penang Datuk Seri Suppiah Manikam and Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (promotions II) Lee Thai Hung.
Tourism Malaysia said the service reflected growing interest among Polish travellers in Malaysia’s cultural heritage, tropical islands, nature-based attractions and gastronomy.
“The direct connection is also expected to significantly boost Penang’s tourism sector, capitalising on its world-renowned culinary scene and George Town’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“Poland has emerged as a promising source market for Malaysia within Central and Eastern Europe,” it said in a statement.
Between January and September this year, Malaysia recorded 40,526 tourist arrivals from Poland, an 8.3 per cent increase from the 37,432 visitors recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
Tourism Malaysia added that strategic partnerships with international tour operators remained essential to expanding market reach and sustaining tourist arrivals under the Visit Malaysia 2026–2027 (VM2026–2027) campaign.
In early October, it was reported that Penang was preparing to launch its first charter flight from Poland, targeting the European market during the winter travel season.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai had said the Warsaw-Penang service would serve as a stepping stone for the state to establish a presence in the European tourism market.