AirAsia X expands its direct Kuala Lumpur–Almaty service to five weekly flights, supporting rising demand and regional tourism cooperation.
ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN – AirAsia X (AAX) has marked the first anniversary of its direct Kuala Lumpur–Almaty service with the announcement of an increased flight frequency between Malaysia and Kazakhstan. Effective this quarter, the airline will operate five weekly flights on the route, offering nearly 77,000 seats, up from the previous four flights per week.
Launched on 14 March 2024, the Kuala Lumpur–Almaty route remains the only direct air connection between Southeast Asia and Kazakhstan. Over its first year of operation, AAX has achieved an average load factor of 90%, indicating consistent demand from leisure and business travellers alike.
To formalise continued cooperation in tourism development, AAX signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Almaty Tourism during a ceremony in Almaty. The agreement outlines joint efforts to promote two-way travel between Malaysia and Kazakhstan and to raise Almaty’s profile as a key destination for Southeast Asian travellers.
The increase in flight frequency comes as travel between Central and Southeast Asia gains momentum. The route plays a central role in facilitating greater connectivity between the regions and supports broader regional economic and tourism development strategies. The new MoU with Almaty Tourism is expected to further encourage bilateral cooperation in tourism promotion, infrastructure development, and market engagement initiatives.
According to AirAsia X, over 100,000 passengers have travelled the Kuala Lumpur–Almaty route since its inception, underscoring the significance of the service in supporting regional mobility. In 2025, Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair is anticipated to further enhance regional connectivity, with aviation playing a critical part in facilitating intra-regional movement and economic integration.
Through Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Fly-Thru facility, passengers from Almaty can connect to over 130 onward destinations served by the AirAsia Group network, including cities across ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Similarly, the route allows Southeast Asian travellers streamlined access to Central Asia via a single stopover.
Tourism Malaysia has reaffirmed its support for initiatives that strengthen air access to emerging markets such as Kazakhstan. The country is among the key source markets identified under Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, which aims to attract 45 million visitors and generate RM270 billion in receipts.
The enhanced Kuala Lumpur–Almaty connection is part of a broader push to improve accessibility and drive sustainable tourism growth. No further expansion announcements were made during the event. The airline confirmed that operations on the route will continue during the increased frequency period.