Tawau Welcomes First Hong Kong Charter Flight from Greater Bay Airlines

22 January 2026

TAWAU: Tawau Airport celebrated a new milestone as it received its first charter flight from Hong Kong operated by Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) on Tuesday, 20th January, with the aircraft receiving a traditional water salute upon touchdown.

The flight arrived at 8:00 pm, carrying 131 passengers. This marks Tawau’s first charter service this month and further strengthens regional connectivity, following recent charter flights by Loong Air from Shenzhen and AirAsia from Shanghai in December 2025, alongside scheduled services by Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai.

On hand to welcome the passengers were notable figures including President of the Tawau Municipal Council, Joseph Pang; Senior Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Tourism Board, Tay Shu Lan; Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia (Sabah), Khairul Amir Anuar; Head of Operations at Tawau Airport, Rosaimey Asmari; and William Tan, Vice President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Tawau.

Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, YB Datuk Jafry Ariffin, described the additional flight as a promising start to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and an important step towards achieving the target of four million visitors to Sabah.

He highlighted the opportunities the direct flight offers, stating, “Hong Kong travellers now have a direct gateway to Tawau’s natural attractions such as Tawau Hills Park, world-class seafood, and the stunning islands of Semporna. It presents a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and support for our local products.”

The charter flight is also seen as a valuable opportunity to gauge market interest, potentially paving the way for permanent scheduled services. “I encourage Tawau’s tourism industry to seize this moment by offering tailored travel packages that showcase the best of our district, ensuring visitors have an unforgettable experience,” he added.

Greater Bay Airlines plans to operate the route twice weekly, with departures scheduled on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

As of 1 January, Sabah is served by two airlines connecting to Hong Kong: Hong Kong Express, with five weekly flights, and AirAsia, operating daily services between Kota Kinabalu and Hong Kong.