After the launch of the first flight from Kuala Lumpur to Almaty, AirAsia X (AAX) entered into a memorandum with the national company Kazakh Tourism on strategic cooperation, QazMonitor reports citing the press service of the Committee of Tourism Industry of Kazakhstan.
130 new destinations: The memorandum expands commercial cooperation between the airline and the organization in promoting tourism between Kazakhstan and Malaysia. It will also help create new business opportunities, develop joint sales and marketing campaigns, and stimulate the economies of both countries through tourism.
As a strategic partner, AirAsia will not only bring travelers from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries to Almaty but will also open 130 new destinations across the region for Kazakh tourists via Kuala Lumpur. The companies seek to expand the promotion of Malaysia and Kazakhstan tourism products throughout Southeast Asia through joint conferences, tourism exhibitions, and other events.
Event attendance: The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X, and Kairat Sadvakassov, Chairman of the Board of Kazakh Tourism on March 15 in Almaty. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mohd Adli bin Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to Kazakhstan, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, executive chairman of Capital A, and Datuk Fam Lee Ee, Chairman of AirAsia X. Representatives of Almaty International Airport, Civil Aviation Committee and other key industry figures also joined the event.
Economy and tourism: The parties believe the new agreement will contribute to the economies and tourism development in Central and Southeast Asia.
“This strategic alliance is a significant step for both Malaysia and Kazakhstan. It's not just about improving the travel experience, it's also about supporting our economy. Wherever we fly, our competitive fares encourage air travel and contribute to the tourism sector, which is a major driver of job creation and economic growth,"
“We are pleased to welcome AAX to our country. The entry of Air Asia into our market is important not only for Kazakhstan but also for the entire Central Asian region. We believe that cooperation between countries will create new jobs and play a significant role in the growth of our countries' economies,"
Kuala Lumpur–Almaty: AAX launched flights on Kuala Lumpur–Almaty and Almaty–Kuala Lumpur routes with a frequency of 4 times a week. Planes will fly every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. AAX's first flight from Kuala Lumpur to Almaty landed on March 14 2024 with a load factor above 90%.