New Air Route Connects Xi’an and Kuala Lumpur, Enhancing Travel and Cultural Exchange
Xi’an, The Gulf Observer: A new air route linking Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, officially commenced operations on Sunday, marking a significant step in enhancing connectivity between the two regions.
At approximately 8:40 a.m., an Airbus A320 aircraft operated by China Eastern Airlines departed from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. The airline will run a daily round-trip flight along this route. On its outbound journey, the flight makes a stop in Kunming, Yunnan Province, at 11:15 a.m. before reaching Kuala Lumpur at 4:50 p.m. local time. The return flight departs from Kuala Lumpur at 5:50 p.m. local time, stops in Kunming four hours later, and arrives in Xi’an at 1:35 a.m. the next day.
Xi’an, with a history spanning over 3,100 years, was once the capital of 13 Chinese dynasties and is renowned for historical landmarks such as the Terracotta Warriors. The new air route provides travelers with a more convenient option to visit not only Kuala Lumpur but also Shaanxi Province and the picturesque landscapes of Yunnan. Additionally, it serves as an important bridge for economic and cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia.
This newly launched service is also the first international air route inaugurated following the opening of Terminal 5 at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport last Thursday, signaling the airport’s growing role as a regional aviation hub.
Since November 2023, China has been continuously refining its visa-free transit policy to foster openness and promote people-to-people exchanges. In 2023 alone, over 20.1 million foreign visitors entered China under the visa exemption policy, representing a year-on-year increase of 113.5 percent in eligible transit visa-exemption travelers.
The introduction of this air route is expected to further boost tourism, trade, and cultural interactions between China and Malaysia, reinforcing bilateral ties and strengthening regional connectivity.
