AirAsia launches new route: Phuket and Penang in direct exchange!

AirAsia launches new route: Phuket and Penang in direct exchange!

Today we have exciting news from the region: AirAsia Malaysia has officially announced a new flight from Phuket to Penang, launching on December 8, 2025. Penang is not only a popular destination for beach lovers and foodies, but also a leading medical tourism center in Malaysia. This development is likely to be of interest to many travelers as the connection between these two tourism hotspots will boost both leisure and medical tourism and support economic activity in the region.

With high-quality hospitals and a vibrant culture, Penang is attracting more and more visitors. As of August 2025, medical tourism in Penang had already recorded over 200,000 foreign patients and generated almost RM500 million in revenue. A positive trend that is being fueled by the continually increasing international arrivals, especially from Indonesia, China and Thailand. The opening of the new route promises to further advance these developments.

New cooperation to strengthen medical tourism

As per a recently signed agreement between the Penang Center of Medical Tourism (PMED) and AirAsia, the partnership will also be extended to the medical tourism sector. A memorandum of cooperation was signed at a ceremony at St Giles Wembley Hotel to strengthen Penang's position as a preferred medical tourism destination. The associated campaign, “AirAsia Boarding Pass Privileges: Medical Offers for International Travelers,” runs until the end of 2026 and offers international travelers flying to Penang with AirAsia attractive discounts on health screening packages as well as exclusive access to leading healthcare providers. This could be particularly interesting for patients who are not only planning a trip to a beautiful destination, but also value high-quality medical care.

YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy, emphasized the strategic importance of this cooperation in the development of medical tourism in the region. Penang currently accounts for 45% of Malaysia's medical tourism revenue and is supported by numerous member institutions such as the new Columbia Asia Hospital.

Flights and bargains

To celebrate this exciting new connection, AirAsia is offering a special fare starting from just THB 1,690 for flights between Penang and Phuket. Bookings for this promotion are open until December 21, 2025, giving travelers the opportunity to travel cheaply during the low season. The flights are intended to provide a seamless transition for travelers from Thailand and the ASEAN region.

The numbers speak for themselves: Malaysia is Thailand's top source of foreign tourists, with over four million Malaysians having visited Thailand as of November 2025. This shows how closely the two countries are connected and how important this new route is for both medical tourism and regular tourism in the region.

It will be exciting to see how these initiatives develop and what impact they will have on the economic and tourism situation in Phuket and Penang. Austrian travelers can look forward to an ideal mix of relaxation, culture and medical care that this new route has to offer.

For more information and booking options, visit the official website AirAsia, PMED and US-ASEAN.