KUCHING, Nov. 17 -- Sarawak marked a significant milestone in its aviation connectivity with the arrival of 9Air's inaugural scheduled charter flight from Haikou, China.

The flight, AQ1295, landed at Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 5.10am on Saturday, signaling a boost in direct air links between the state and major Chinese cities.

The arrival was welcomed by state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, who received a delegation including the airline's Assistant to the President and General Manager of the Route Network Department, Cai Xing.

In a statement following the event, Lee highlighted the service as a reflection of 9Air's growing interest in Sarawak.

He encouraged the airline to capitalise on this momentum by explorin...