Loong Air (GJ, Hangzhou) inaugurated a direct charter service between Shenzhen and Tawau on December 6, 2025. The service, organised by local travel agencies, comprises four flights scheduled for December to meet year-end tourism demand. Tour operators also announced a year-round charter route connecting Hong Kong International and Tawau starting in January 2026. Those will likely be operated by Greater Bay Airlines (HB, Hong Kong International), which has announced a 2x weekly B737-800 service to the airport beginning January 20.

Internationally, Tawau is also connected to Guangzhou by AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur International) and Batik Air Malaysia (OD, Kuala Lumpur International), according to ch-aviation schedules data.