KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines expects to carry more than 52,000 passengers across its China network during the upcoming Golden Week holiday period, a 21% increase from a year earlier.
The Golden Week travel period runs from Sept 26 to Oct 11, 2026.
In a statement, the national carrier said it carried more than 600,000 passengers on its China services in the first half of 2026, up 27% year-on-year, with an average load factor of 84%.
Malaysia Airlines currently serves nine gateways in China after restoring daily services to Chengdu and introducing daily flights to Shenzhen and Changsha this year.
These complement its existing services to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Taipei.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) president and group chief executive officer Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar said China remained a priority growth market for the airline.
“As MAG enters its next phase of growth under our Long-Term Business Plan 3.0 (LTBP3.0), we will continue to position Kuala Lumpur as a gateway to Asia and beyond, while investing in the network, fleet, operating capabilities and locally relevant partnerships needed to serve Chinese travellers at scale.
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“Guided by Malaysian Hospitality, we remain committed to bringing people and places close together across China, Malaysia and the wider region,” he said.
Meanwhile, sister airline Firefly plans to commence daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Kunming, subject to regulatory approval.
The route will be operated using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines has also signed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Huawei, Weixin Pay and TravelSky Technology Ltd as part of efforts to expand its digital presence and distribution channels in China.
The collaborations cover digital platforms, customer engagement and distribution, including facilitating access to Malaysia Airlines' booking services and travel information through platforms used by Chinese consumers.
The MoUs were formalised in conjunction with Malaysia Airlines' China Trade Gala in Shanghai on Sept 22.
