KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd is set to fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan from Kuala Lumpur making it the first Malaysian-based airline to venture into the Central Asian country.
The budget carrier's chief executive officer (CEO) Benyamin Ismail told Business Times that the inaugural flight will commence starting March 14, 2024. "Kazakhstan is an entirely new market for AirAsia X and a strategic route to expand into. It is a strong testament to our vision and determination to explore new destinations while resuming services to our most popular destinations post pandemic," he said.
Benyamin added that the direct flight would foster significant trade, commerce and education interchange between Malaysia and Kazakhstan.
AirAsia X will commence operations using its Airbus A330 four times weekly.
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At the AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur-Almaty launch, Capital A Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said AirAsia is focused on being an Asean low-cost carrier.
Commenting on the possibility of AirAsia flying domestically in Kazakhstan, Fernandes said the airline would if the government of Kazakhstan would allow it to do so.
"The focus is very much on AirAsia being an Asean low-cost carrier but if the Kazakh government gives us opportunity to do fifth and seventh freedom, we will do that and we'll be flying like a local airline. That's up to the government of Kazakhstan," he said.
The event was also attended by Capital A's executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan His Excellency Bulat Sugurbayev, Benyamin and AirAsia Aviation Group group CEO Bo Lingam.