AirAsia X (AAX) has made its debut in the Central Asian market with the launch of its direct flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The inaugural flight, which departed from Almaty International Airport on 14 March 2024, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Terminal 2) with a full load of 285 passengers.
The passengers were welcomed by Dr. Yasmeen binti Yasim, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture), Manoharan Periasamy, Director General, Tourism Malaysia, along with Kesavan Sivanandam, Chief Airport and Customer Experience Officer of AirAsia, Moses Devanayagam, Senior Director of Operations of AirAsia X, and Amanda Woo, Group Head of Commercial of AirAsia.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, expressed his delight at the arrival of the inaugural flight. He said,
We are pleased to welcome AirAsia X’s inaugural flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Kuala Lumpur today. As the first Malaysian airline to fly directly to Almaty, this marks a significant milestone for our nation. Malaysia is a country rich in diverse cultures and natural beauty, and we are excited to extend our Malaysian hospitality to our Kazakh friends.
Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, expressed confidence in the airline’s move, stating,
This strategic move underscores our continued commitment to expanding our global footprint and reconnecting travellers with the world’s most captivating destinations.
Ismail emphasized the potential for enhancing tourism between both countries and fostering closer regional ties.
To commemorate the launch, AirAsia X is offering promotional fares starting from RM599 (USD169) all-in one-way between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty.
The promotional fares are available for booking from March 15 to 21, 2024, for travel between now and June 17, 2025, on airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app.
This new route signifies AAX’s status as the first airline from the region to establish a direct air link with Kazakhstan, marking a historic milestone in Southeast Asian aviation.
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