As Lunar New Year celebrations welcome the Year of the Horse, Emirates is enhancing the festive spirit for travellers across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
Recognised as one of the busiest travel seasons in the region, Lunar New Year represents an important period for family reunions, holidays, and international travel.
To mark the occasion, Emirates is introducing exclusive onboard treats, festive menus, and entertainment options while also revealing key travel trends among passengers flying to and from Malaysia and neighbouring countries.
Malaysia’s Growing Importance in Global Lunar New Year Travel
According to Emirates’ February 2026 booking data, Malaysia continues to attract strong international interest during the festive season. Major inbound travellers are arriving from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting Malaysia’s appeal as both a cultural destination and reunion hub.
Interestingly, solo travellers make up the largest portion of inbound visitors at 61%, followed by couples at 20%. Families and group travellers also contribute to the festive traffic, reflecting the diverse reasons people travel during Lunar New Year.
Outbound travel from Malaysia is equally impressive. Malaysians are taking advantage of the long holiday break to explore international destinations such as Dubai, Istanbul, Cairo, London, and Paris. This trend reflects a growing preference among Malaysians for long-haul travel and premium travel experiences during major holiday periods.
Solo travellers again lead outbound travel at 53%, followed by couples, groups, and families. These figures demonstrate how Lunar New Year is evolving beyond family reunions into a prime opportunity for global exploration.
Southeast Asia Travel Trends Reflect Diverse Travel Motivations
Across the region, Emirates’ data shows different travel patterns in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Thailand remains a popular leisure destination, attracting visitors mainly from Europe and Asia. Thai travellers, meanwhile, prefer short regional trips during the festive period, often taking advantage of the holiday for quick getaways or visiting friends.
Vietnam, on the other hand, is seeing a rise in long-haul travel demand. While family reunions remain important during Tết celebrations, more Vietnamese travellers are combining tradition with international holidays, visiting cities such as Dubai, London, and Paris.
These trends highlight how Lunar New Year is becoming both a cultural celebration and a global travel season.
Special Lunar New Year Festivities Onboard Emirates Flights
To bring the festive spirit into the skies, Emirates is offering special onboard experiences for passengers travelling between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur and across Asia.
Passengers across all cabin classes can enjoy carefully curated Lunar New Year desserts designed to celebrate the occasion.
Premium cabin passengers will be treated to a luxurious lychee and rose mousse cake with white chocolate, offering an elegant and refreshing festive dessert.
Meanwhile, Economy Class passengers can enjoy a delicious taro coconut sago dessert served with sweetened fruits and red beans, delivering traditional flavours inspired by Lunar New Year celebrations.
In addition, Emirates is presenting traditional red envelopes filled with chocolate coins on selected flights. These symbolic gifts represent prosperity and good fortune, adding a meaningful cultural touch to the journey.
Festive Lounge Experiences and Cultural Entertainment
The Lunar New Year celebrations extend beyond the aircraft cabin. Emirates is also offering festive meals and desserts at selected airport lounges, including those in Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
Passengers travelling during the celebration period can enjoy seasonal dishes designed to reflect traditional Lunar New Year flavours.
To further enhance the experience, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, features a wide selection of Lunar New Year content.
Travellers from Malaysia can enjoy movies, TV shows, and music in Malay, allowing them to stay connected with familiar culture and entertainment even while flying across continents.
Chinese-language content, including popular films and festive programmes, is also available, ensuring passengers can enjoy culturally relevant entertainment throughout their journey.
Strengthening Global Connectivity During Peak Travel Season
With its extensive global network spanning six continents, Emirates plays a vital role in connecting Southeast Asia to major international destinations.
During high-demand periods like Lunar New Year, Emirates provides essential connectivity for both leisure and family travel, enabling millions of passengers to celebrate with loved ones or explore new destinations.
For Malaysian travellers, this connectivity opens doors to world-class destinations while providing a comfortable and festive travel experience.
Elevating the Festive Travel Experience
Emirates’ Lunar New Year initiative reflects the airline’s commitment to delivering memorable travel experiences that go beyond transportation.
From festive desserts and symbolic gifts to cultural entertainment and global connectivity, every detail is designed to enhance the passenger journey.
As Lunar New Year continues to grow as one of the world’s most important travel seasons, Emirates remains at the forefront of connecting people, cultures, and celebrations across the globe.
For travellers flying between Malaysia and international destinations, this festive season promises not just a journey—but a celebration in the skies.
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