2
Airlines
21×
Per week
฿2,357
From (live)
1h
Nonstop
Phuket (HKT) → Penang (PEN)
Phuket
Phuket International Airport
DISTANCE
411 km
Penang
Penang International Airport
Flight time is an estimate: great-circle distance with ~8% routing adjustment and ~45 min ground operations. Actual block time depends on the carrier, winds, and specific service (check the airline schedule).
Fare trend — last 5weeks
↓ down 64%Lowest one-way fare from weekly Travelpayouts snapshots. See methodology for how we collect this.
Compare carriers on this route
🇲🇾AirAsia (Malaysia)
AK
- Frequency
- 21× / week
- Baggage
- LCC (paid)
- Migrant program
- —
🇹🇭Thai AirAsia
FD
- Frequency
- 21× / week
- Baggage
- LCC (paid)
- Migrant program
- —
Phuket to Penang is one of the shortest international routes in the region — a one-hour hop between two islands with a shared trading heritage. It carries leisure travellers crossing between Phuket and Penang, Malaysian and Thai residents with regional ties, and a notable share of travellers heading to Penang for medical care, for which the island is well known.
Block time is about an hour. With a low-cost line-up and around 21 flights a week, the route works like a regional bus service — easy availability, and a decision that comes down to timing and the all-in fare.
Corridor profile
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Phuket (HKT) → Penang (PEN), Malaysia |
| Direct carriers | AirAsia (Malaysia) and Thai AirAsia |
| Frequency | ~21/week |
| Block time | ~1.0h |
| Traveller cluster | D (ASEAN & regional leisure) |
| Market low (cache) | — |
Airlines & baggage
| Airline | Alliance | Baggage | Migrant uplift | Hajj charter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirAsia (Malaysia) (AK) | non-aligned | 7 kg | — | — |
| Thai AirAsia (FD) | non-aligned | 7 kg | — | — |
Airlines on this route
Two low-cost carriers fly HKT-PEN: AirAsia (Malaysia) and Thai AirAsia, both of the AirAsia group. They price the base seat low and sell checked baggage, seat selection and meals as extras. On a one-hour flight many travellers carry cabin baggage only; when comparing, the figure that matters is the total once whatever you need to check is added.
Fare trends
HKT-PEN fares are low and competitive, kept that way by the short distance and the AirAsia-group line-up. The cheapest seats are the early-released fares — booking two to five weeks ahead usually lands a good THB price, and mid-week departures undercut weekends. Demand rises around Malaysian and Thai holidays; for a hop this short, travelling light keeps the cost down.
Seasonality & best time to book
Phuket–Penang fares move with demand. The cheapest windows fall outside school holidays, Songkran and New Year; book 4–8 weeks ahead for normal dates.
About Penang
Penang, the destination of this route, is a Malaysian island state whose capital, George Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Straits-era shophouses, multicultural streets and a celebrated food scene. The island is also a well-established centre for medical care, which draws regional patients. For travellers from Phuket, Penang offers a close, distinctive island contrast — heritage, food and a different cultural mix, an hour away.
FAQ
Which airlines fly Phuket to Penang?
The HKT-PEN route is operated by AirAsia (Malaysia) and Thai AirAsia. Compare baggage, alliances and fares in the table above.
How long and how often is the HKT-PEN flight?
Block time is ~1.0h, with ~21 flights per week across all carriers.
When is HKT-PEN cheapest to book?
Book 4–8 weeks ahead; avoid Songkran, school holidays and peak season to save 15–30%.
Search live fares
Search HKT → PEN on Aviasales →
Related
Where to stay · Penang
Hotels in Penang — baht budget
Budget
Guesthouse & 2-3★
฿900–1,800 / night
Mid
Comfort 3-4★
฿1,800–4,000 / night
Luxury
5★ & resort
฿4,000+ / night
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