AirAsia X marks the first year of the Kuala Lumpur-Almaty route with increased flights

AirAsia X (AAX), a low-cost airline in the Asia-Pacific region, marks the first anniversary of its Kuala Lumpur-Almaty route, a vital air bridge connecting Southeast Asia to Central Asia.

In a press statement, the airline says that since launching the direct service on March 14, 2024, it has played a pioneering role as the only airline offering nonstop flights between Malaysia and Kazakhstan, and demand for the route has soared.

The statement adds that AAX has ramped up its service frequency from four to five flights weekly, providing nearly 27,000 seats in the upcoming quarter. The airline’s 90 pc load factor over the past year underscores the growing interest in travel between the two regions and highlights AAX’s confidence in the route’s long-term potential.

“We are very thrilled by the support given by guests from both sides that we are now able to provide better connectivity to Central Asia. The added flight frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty to five times weekly is driven by robust demand and the city’s rising profile as a must-visit destination. Since launching this route in March last year, we have flown over 100,000 guests between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty, underscoring its potential as a key market for tourism and trade,” says Benyamin Ismail, CEO, AirAsia X.

“With Malaysia assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, the country is well-positioned to lead regional growth and connectivity. This enhanced relationship with Kazakhstan not only supports mutual economic growth but also unlocks new opportunities in emerging markets across Central Asia,” Ismail adds.

Also Read: Thai AirAsia X to launch direct flights from Delhi to Bangkok

Moreover, to further strengthen tourism ties, AAX and Almaty Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 21, reinforcing their commitment to boosting two-way travel and positioning Almaty as a top destination for travellers from Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

“Through our Fly-Thru connectivity in Kuala Lumpur, travellers from Almaty can now access over 130 destinations, including popular ASEAN and island getaways like Penang, Langkawi, Kuching, Bali, and Bangkok. Vice versa, travellers from across ASEAN can now hop on the next flight to the ‘Switzerland of Central Asia’ conveniently with a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur. This seamless access reinforces our commitment to opening up more affordable travel options, boosting tourism and economic exchange across the region,” says Ismail.

Datuk Manoharan Periasamy

“Malaysia’s tourism sector is on a strong growth trajectory, with a strategic realignment in place to attract 45 million visitors and generate RM 270 billion (USD xxx) in tourism receipts by next year. This forms part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, which capitalises on the country’s diverse attractions, improved accessibility, and targeted market strategies. To further unlock Malaysia’s tourism potential, we are proud to support airlines such as AAX in enhancing air connectivity in Central Asia, where countries like Kazakhstan are showing promising growth in visitor arrivals through direct flight access. Kazakhstan continues to be one of our key and emerging tourism source markets in the region, and we are committed to strengthening this partnership as we prepare to welcome more visitors from this region ahead of VM2026,” says Datuk Mano­haran Peria­samy, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia.

The statement says that in celebration of this anniversary and expanded service, AAX is offering special promotional fares with 25 pc off all seats, as well as discounts on seat selection and checked baggage for bookings made by April 27, for travel between April 28 and November 30.