New Beijing-Kota Kinabalu route on the cards as China Eastern eyes more Sabah flights
SHANGHAI, Sept 23 — China Eastern Airlines plans to increase its Shanghai-Kota Kinabalu services to double or even...
China Eastern Airlines is considering expanding its Shanghai-Kota Kinabalu services, with plans to double or even triple the daily flights, according to recent discussions. These plans were explored during a visit by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin to the airline's Shanghai office. During the meeting, Jafry emphasized the importance of stronger direct air connectivity for Sabah, especially as the state prepares for the Visit Sabah 2027 initiative.
He highlighted that increased flight frequencies would provide more capacity and flexibility for travelers. Additionally, the airline is exploring the possibility of a direct Beijing-Kota Kinabalu route, which would serve as another major gateway and further enhance Sabah's connectivity with China. Sabah's arrivals from China in the first eight months of 2026 reached 578,681, marking a 21.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
During the peak summer travel period in 2026, China Eastern operated up to three daily Shanghai-Kota Kinabalu services.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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