Tawau Airport welcomed its first charter flight from Hong Kong on Tuesday (January 20 2026), operated by Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), marking a significant milestone in strengthening regional air connectivity. The aircraft received a water salute upon touchdown and arrived at 8.00pm with 131 passengers on board.
The charter marks Tawau’s first international charter arrival this month and builds on growing connectivity to the district, following recent charter services by Loong Air from Shenzhen and AirAsia from Shanghai in December 2025, alongside scheduled flights by Juneyao Airlines from Shanghai.
Officials present to welcome the arriving passengers included 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 Tawau Airport Rosaimey Asmari; and Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce Vice President William Tan.
The additional flight is a great start to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and significant in supporting Sabah’s target of four million visitor arrivals. Hong Kong travellers now have a direct gateway to Tawau’s natural wonders like the Tawau Hills Park, world-class seafood, and a gateway to the breathtaking islands of Semporna. It is a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and the opportunity to support our local products. The charter flight is a great avenue to test the market interest and may pave the way for potential permanent scheduled flights. I urge Tawau tourism players to seize this opportunity by offering travel packages specially tailored for this market, ensuring our guests experience the very best of the district. ~ Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah YB Datuk Jafry Bin Ariffin
Greater Bay Airlines is scheduled to operate twice weekly, with flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
As of January 1, Sabah is served by two airlines offering direct connectivity between Kota Kinabalu and Hong Kong, with Hong Kong Express operating five weekly flights and AirAsia providing daily services.