KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd, the long-haul arm of AirAsia Group Bhd, has met with the Civil Aviation Committee (CAA) of Kazakhstan to discuss the possibility of the airline introducing a direct flight from Malaysia to the Central Asian country.
The New Straits Times learnt that the meeting was held between AirAsia Group executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, AAX chief executive Benyamin Ismail and Kazakhstan CAA chairman Talgat Lastayev as well as representatives from Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Karaganda airports and Kazakhstan embassy to Malaysia.
The meeting includes discussions on the potential for AAX to introduce a direct route from Kuala Lumpur to Kazakhstan as well as a presentation on the development of aviation industry in Kazakhstan and the country’s adoption to the Open Skies policy.
“The interest is there but we must do further research on how to introduce this plan. They (AAX) have expressed interest to use Kazakhstan as a hub for them to fly to the US and Europe,” a source said.
The potential US and European cities that AAX might fly into include New York, Rome, Milan and Nice.
The meeting was held at AirAsia’s RedQ office in Sepang on Tuesday.
Recently, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev asked the country to adopt Open Skies policy and expand its international routes while attracting more foreign airlines.
The sources said that although the move will pose a big competition to Kazakhstan-based airlines, it was time to open the country to the world with more flight connections.
The move will also help to develop the Astana International Financial Center as well as the country’s tourism industry.
“Kazakhstan is very excited to have AAX to introduce a direct flight, but of course this is all preliminary. But on Kazakhstan’s side, the country is ready to fully support them (AAX),” another source said, adding that the discussion also included incentives that would be given to the airline such as airport and tariff fees, and marketing support for flight promotion.
Currently, the only direct flight available is from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa via Kazakhstan’s national carrier, Air Astana.
AAX would be the first international budget airline to fly into Kazakhstan should the carrier introduces the direct flight.
Meanwhile, Kamarudin expressed his gratitude to Kazakhstan for showing strong interest and offering attractive airport incentives for the airline to fly to various airports in the country.
“Having been to Kazakhstan, both Nur-Sultan and Almaty, it definitely suits our expansion plan and we have agreed in forming a working team from both parties to seriously explore this possibility.”
“I would not be surprised to see the flights into Kazakhstan from any of our various hubs some time next year,” he said yesterday.
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