ASTANA — After its successful opening flight celebration in Almaty, Kazakhstan, AirAsia X signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for strategic cooperation with Kazakhstan’s national tourism company on March 15, the airline’s press office announced.
AirAsia X signed a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation with Kazakhstan’s national tourism company on March 15
Photo: AirAsia
The MoU covers greater commercial cooperation and partnerships between the airline and the organization to promote tourism between Kazakhstan and Malaysia, create new business opportunities, develop joint sales and marketing campaigns and boost the economies of both countries through tourism.
As a strategic partner, AirAsia will not only transport passengers from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries to Almaty, but also connect travelers from Almaty to 130 destinations in the region via Kuala Lumpur. The airline is also looking to expand the promotion of the Malaysian and Kazakh tourism product in the region through conferences, tourism markets and other exciting events.
Benjamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, expressed that the strategic alliance marks significant progress for Malaysia and Kazakhstan. He emphasized that this extends beyond improving travel experiences and strengthening their economies. Ismail emphasized that the partnership creates additional opportunities for travelers, ultimately promoting growth for both countries.
“Our competitive fares drive air travel wherever we fly, contributing to the tourism sector, a major driver of job creation and a driver of economic growth,” he said.
He added that the significant load factor on both legs of their first flights suggests strong demand for the route, demonstrating their ability to enter new markets effectively.
“This bodes well for future growth and expansion opportunities in the region, increasing not only our capabilities in various sectors between Malaysia and Kazakhstan, but also in the Southeast Asia region. We are excited to see the positive changes it brings to Malaysia and Kazakhstan in the future,” said Ismail.
Kairat Sadvakasov, Chairman of the Kazakhstan National Tourism Company, highlighted the importance of Malaysia’s arrival in the country and the wider Central Asian region. Sadvakasov emphasized Kazakhstan’s role as a gateway and central hub in the region, offering access to various attractions. He expressed the country’s optimism for a productive cooperation with AirAsia X and expected a significant impact on the economic progress of the two nations.
“We believe that cooperation between our countries will create new job opportunities and play an important role in the economic growth of our nations,” he said.
In its efforts to promote tourism, AirAsia X is offering promotional fares for 24 hours only on flights from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur, starting from a base price of $15 one way. The airline will also continue to offer promotional fares on this route until March 21, 2024, from just $169 one-way for travel between now and June 17, 2025.
The introductory one flight from Kuala Lumpur to Almaty reached almost full capacity, marking an important milestone as the airline expanded its presence in Central Asia. Similarly, the return flight from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur had 100 percent occupancy, highlighting a promising start to regional operations. These flights between the two cities, scheduled four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, signify a strong commitment to connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty.
