If you live in Penang, Johor or Sabah, you may not need to go to Kuala Lumpur at all. When we checked in October 2026, Penang’s government counted nine Chinese cities with direct flights[1], and Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching each had links of their own.
It is tiring to plan a long trip that begins with another flight or a drive. This guide shows what we could confirm from each airport.
What can you fly to from Penang?
Penang’s government named Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Qingdao, Chongqing and Haikou[1]. Not every operator is confirmed, so use the table as a lead, not a timetable.
| Route | What we found | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Chongqing | Chongqing Airlines began on 9 April 2026, four times weekly[2] | Days of the week |
| Shanghai | Spring Airlines began daily flights in January 2026[3] | Which Shanghai airport |
| Guangzhou | Spring Airlines began on 1 February 2026, three weekly[4] | Baggage rules |
| Qingdao | Qingdao Airlines launched on 31 March 2026[5] | Frequency |
| Haikou | Hainan Airlines set a start of 11 October[6] | Whether it has begun |
Read the Haikou line carefully, because the start date was announced and we could not confirm that it began.
What about Johor Bahru?
For Yunnan, the route to know is AirAsia’s Kunming to Johor Bahru, which began on 15 December 2025 as AK1381, three times weekly with an Airbus A320[7]. Guangzhou already had a direct route to Johor Bahru before that service started[8].
If Yunnan is your plan, read our Kuala Lumpur to Kunming options alongside this page.
What about Kota Kinabalu and Kuching?
Officials said in March 2026 that Kota Kinabalu is connected to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Fuzhou[9]. Spring Airlines resumed daily Shanghai to Kota Kinabalu on 28 January 2026[10], and Chongqing Airlines began Chongqing to Kota Kinabalu in March 2026 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday[11].
From Kuching, Malindo Air began Guangzhou on 17 March 2026, twice weekly, and the flight takes about three hours[12][13]. 9 Air launched Haikou to Kuching in November 2025 on a twice-weekly basis[14]. A flight-tracking site has listed a conflicting start for the Malindo route, so confirm it with the airline.
What should you check before you book?
Start with the day of the week, since these routes fly on set days of the week. Then ask whether the ticket is the cheaper and easier option once you add the cost of reaching KLIA.
- Does the flight run on your dates?
- Is there a baggage allowance that suits your trip? The budget carrier guide explains the difference.
- Could you fly into one city and out of another? See open-jaw flights.
Compare these with the Kuala Lumpur gateway list, then price the total in the budget planner. The getting around topic page has the next steps.