AirAsia X Plans To Make Central Asia The Main Focus For Network Expansion
SEPANG, June 23 (Bernama) -- Medium-haul low-cost airline AirAsia X Bhd plans to make the Central Asian region the main focus of its flight network expansion, supported by the high potential market demand and relatively underexplored by commercial airlines.
Chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said that so far the company has started flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan since March last year, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan starting this October, while another new route is expected to be announced in the near future.
"The Central Asian market is still underserved. Not many airlines go there. As you can see, for example, Almaty, if there was no AirAsia X, it would take you 18 hours to get there, with Airasia X (direct flight) only eight hours.
"I think the focus is on this region, we have started from Almaty and we have another route that we are developing... We’re looking at Turkiye, Azerbaijan and other Central Asia countries and hopefully, this will be a platform for us onwards later to Europe," he told the media after the launch of the new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan here today.
Benyamin said Central Asia not only offers the attraction of lower tourism costs but also has interesting historical and Islamic cultural values for the Malaysian market.
He said the launch of the Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent route was a strategic milestone in AirAsia X's continued efforts to expand across Asia and beyond.
According to him, Central Asia holds great potential with Uzbekistan's economy continuing to grow rapidly and the middle class growing and keen to explore new destinations.
"We have seen a significant increase in tourism demand to Central Asia following the impressive performance of the Almaty route.
"Our vision is to offer a comprehensive network to support regional development and connect travellers to new destinations while creating unforgettable travel experiences," he said.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Karomidin Gadoev said AirAsia X's direct flight to Tashkent is an important development in Uzbekistan-Malaysia relations.
"With Uzbekistan's rapidly growing tourism sector and Malaysia's strong position as a tourism and business hub in Southeast Asia, this route will further enhance connectivity, boost tourism exchanges, and offer new opportunities for investment.
"We are delighted to welcome AirAsia X to this market with potential and hope that this collaboration will yield positive results," he said.
According to a statement from AirAsia X, travellers can now enjoy the beauty of Tashkent with promotional fares starting from RM99 for economy seats, from June 23-29 for travel between Oct 15, 2025 and Sept 14, 2026.
Located in the heart of Uzbekistan, the capital city of Tashkent is a rapidly developing city known for its stunning Islamic architecture, bustling bazaars and beautiful green parks.
-- BERNAMA