Malaysia welcomes Polish airline LOT's new direct flight from Warsaw to Langkawi

LOT Polish Airlines officially launched its first charter flight from Warsaw to Langkawi, marking an important milestone in strengthening tourism ties between Poland and Malaysia. This new service is designed to increase tourism traffic between the two destinations.

The first flight landed at Langkawi International Airport (LGK) and was greeted by a welcome ceremony led by Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dr. rum Yasmin Yasim. Representatives from Tourism Malaysia, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Nowa Itaka were also present to celebrate the occasion. Upon arrival, the aircraft was awarded a ceremonial water salute, symbolizing the growing ties between Poland and Malaysia.

The new direct flight will operate once a week every Sunday until March 2025, providing greater convenience for residents of the two countries in establishing economic and cultural exchange and investment. As of September 2024, Malaysia received 24,362 visitors from Poland, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and the total number of Polish tourists recorded in 2023 of 21,472.

As part of efforts to LADA is also planning a range of promotional activities including excursions, cultural events and immersive local experiences to ensure Polish tourists have an unforgettable experience in Langkawi. LADA is optimistic that these initiatives will help increase flight arrivals and increase the total number of tourists in Langkawi to an estimated 3 million by the end of this year.

Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid, CEO of LADA, noted: “The arrival of these charter flights from Poland is a significant milestone for Langkawi's tourism industry. We strive to showcase the island's natural beauty and warm hospitality to our Polish visitors. This initiative not only stimulates our local economy, but also strengthens international relations and cultural exchange. Our partnership with ITAKA was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding at ITB Berlin 2024.”

The introduction of this new route represents a great opportunity to attract more European tourists to Malaysia. As part of its ongoing efforts to promote Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026), Tourism Malaysia remains committed to forming strategic partnerships with international airlines to drive promotional initiatives and stimulate travel demand, further positioning Malaysia as a leading destination for travelers from around the world.< /p>