An airplane operated by Juneyao Airlines parks at Sunan Shuofang Airport. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Wuxi in Jiangsu province inaugurated a new international passenger route connecting to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 19, marking the first direct air connection between the two cities.
Operated by Juneyao Airlines, this route offers three flights per week, departing from Wuxi on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Flights leave Wuxi at 8:55 pm and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 2:50 am the following day. The return journey departs Kuala Lumpur at 3:50 am, landing in Wuxi at 9:15 am.
Travelers pose for a group photo before boarding the airplane for Kuala Lumpur at Sunan Shuofang Airport on March 19. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
The introduction of visa-free policies further enhances the convenience of cross-border travel. Under the mutual visa exemption agreement between China and Malaysia, effective since July 17, 2025, Chinese citizens holding passports valid for more than six months can enter Malaysia without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. Travelers need to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online three days in advance and prepare a return ticket and hotel reservation to embark on a spontaneous trip.
Lyu Yi from Wuxi Sunan International Airport Group said that after the mutual visa exemption agreement took effect last year, there has been a steady surge in tourism and business travel between the two countries. It has led to a significant increase in passenger flights, with year-on-year growth of about 40 percent in 2025.
In recent years, Wuxi has been expanding its international aviation network. The airport now offers passenger routes to 11 countries and regions, including Incheon in South Korea, Osaka in Japan and Nha Trang in Vietnam. It handles an average of 19 international flights per day, with a daily passenger flow of 2,200 people.
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