
Penang to welcome direct flights from Phnom Penh from June 26
Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Cambodia Airways has officially confirmed the new route and this latest development follows the successful launch of the Chengdu-Penang direct flight on April 30.
"This marks the first direct air link between Phnom Penh and Penang, signalling a new era in the exchange between the two cities.
"The launch of the direct flight service between Phnom Penh and Penang will open up more opportunities for tourism, trade and bilateral collaboration between Malaysia and Cambodia, offering more convenient travel options for both business and leisure travellers," he said in a statement today.
Wong said the flight will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Flight KR785 will depart from the Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) at 8.05am and arrive at Penang International Airport (PIA) at 10.55am while the return flight KR786 will depart Penang at 11.55am and land in Phnom Penh at 12.40pm.
He emphasised that this direct connection highlights Penang's unique appeal and growth potential on the regional aviation map, further solidifying its position as an international hub for business events and tourism.
With the inclusion of Cambodia, he said Penang now has direct air links with six Asean member states, namely Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.
"This achievement not only enhances Penang's position as a key international air hub in Southeast Asia but also strengthens regional air connectivity, further solidifying Penang's strategic role in the regional aviation landscape," he said.
With the inclusion of Phnom Penh, PIA now has direct flights to 22 international cities, further boosting Penang's global reach.
Wong also highlighted Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, which began on Jan 1 this year, focusing on promoting regional integration and connectivity and the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025, which identifies air transport as a key pillar for fostering integration.
He noted that the launch of the direct flight from Phnom Penh to Penang is a concrete reflection of a regional vision, advancing seamless air connectivity between Penang and Asean countries while further strengthening the foundation for the goal of an Asean Single Aviation Market (ASAM).
"It will contribute to further enhancing Penang's position as a strategic hub within the regional aviation and trade networks, expanding its role as a key connectivity node in Asean and attracting more business, tourism and investment opportunities," Wong said. - Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Iskandar Puteri festival aims to spur students to create green products
Wong says the Green-Preneur Festival 2025 will include a green-themed night market at Sunway Big Box, Iskandar Puteri. ABOUT 150 students from four schools in Johor Baru will showcase their creativity through eco-friendly products made from recycled materials at the upcoming Green-Preneur Festival 2025. Junior Chamber International South Key commission director and organising chairman Wong Yu Xin said the three-day programme will encourage the students to creatively transform waste into saleable products. 'Aimed at instilling environmental awareness and an entrepreneurial spirit, the festival merges sustainability and enterprise. 'The term 'Green-Preneur' has thus been coined to reflect our core mission,' she said in an interview. She added that the festival would encourage students to become entrepreneurs of sustainable products that can be used in daily life. 'We are also promoting a plastic-free environment to raise awareness of sustainability and climate action among the younger generation,' she said. The July 25 to 27 event would also include a green-themed night market at Sunway Big Box, Iskandar Puteri. Eco-friendly booths, public workshops and exhibitions promoting sustainability are expected to be part of the set-up. 'The main showcase and pitching sessions will happen on July 26 when students will present their sustainable products before a panel of judges. 'Winners will be announced at the end of the event,' Wong said. The four schools taking part are Stellar International School, SMK Sultan Ismail, Sekolah Tun Fatimah and SK Larkin 2. In line with the festival's zero-waste mission, no plastic products such as bags or containers would be used at the venue. Supported by the Education Ministry, the event drew participants from public and private schools in Johor Baru. Wong said about 100 students will present a drum performance using recycled buckets to wow the crowd. She added that the festival will build on the momentum of the previous year's 'Last Straw Project' which focused on plastic pollution awareness. 'We want young people to realise that with creativity and initiative, they can turn waste into something meaningful and even profitable,' she said.


The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Philippines, US and Japan push to advance trilateral economic ties
MANILA (Bernama-PNA): The Philippines, the United States, and Japan are focused on developing their trilateral economic partnership to complement their growing security ties, the US State Department has announced. According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the foreign ministers of the three states - Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi - discussed the plan and the need to unlock more private sector investments in their flagship Luzon Economic Corridor. They met on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia on Thursday (July 10), the statement said. The State Department said Rubio highlighted Manila's wealth in critical minerals and stressed the need to diversify critical mineral supply chains. The officials proposed advancing trilateral cooperation in the Philippines on cyber security, energy (including civil nuclear energy), and investments in reliable and secure telecommunications networks. They concluded with an agreement to hold sectoral trilateral discussions at the senior officials' level in the coming months to advance their shared desire for peace and security in the region. In the same meeting, the officials reaffirmed their interest in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific and agreed to coordinate cooperation on maritime security, including through Maritime Cooperative Activities, trilateral military exercises, and capacity building and assistance for the Philippine Coast Guard and other Philippine maritime authorities. -- Bernama-PNA


The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Malaysia hosts largest ever higher education fair in Indonesia
JAKARTA, July 13 (Bernama): Malaysia is holding the largest-ever higher education fair in Indonesia, aiming to attract more Indonesian students and boost regional academic cooperation under its 2025 Asean Chairmanship. The Mega Ayo Kuliah di Malaysia 2025 fair organised by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) is taking place in Central Jakarta from July 12 to 13 and in Bekasi, West Java on July 15. The fair features 21 Malaysian universities and showcases the country's close geographical proximity, affordable tuition fees, and globally recognised institutions. The fair is expected to attract some 2,000 visitors. Prospective students have the opportunity to get advice and conditional offer letters. Established in 2012, EMGS operates under Malaysia's Higher Education Ministry to promote the country as a global education hub. A total of seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Malaysian and Indonesian universities, including Universiti Utara Malaysia with Universitas Airlangga, Asia e University with Universitas Hasanuddin, and Lincoln University College with Universitas Borneo Lestari. "Malaysia continues to strengthen regional academic mobility through initiatives such as the Graduate Pass, which offers a one-year post-study visa for graduates from 32 countries, including Indonesia,' said Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Anesee Ibrahim at the fair. He also highlighted the Asean Global Exchange Mobility and Scholarship (ASEAN GEMS) platform, which connects students with over 300 scholarship providers across Asean, offering total commitments of more than RM19 million. Also present at the event was Minister Counsellor (Education) at the Malaysian Embassy Dr Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri. "Malaysia offers internationally recognised institutions, a reasonable cost of living, and strong cultural ties with Indonesia, making it an ideal and comfortable destination for Indonesian students,' said EMGS chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin. He pointed out that several Malaysian universities feature in the QS World University Rankings 2026, Kuala Lumpur ranks among the top 25 student cities globally, and Malaysia is 13th in the 2025 Global Peace Index, underscoring its safety and appeal as a study destination. Indonesia remains one of the top sources of international student applications to Malaysia, with around 11,445 Indonesian students currently enrolled, he added. -- Bernama