After previously teasing the new route on social media, AirAsia X – the medium/long-haul arm of budget carrier group AirAsia - has announced its entry into the African market with the launch of new flights to Nairobi, Kenya.
After previously teasing the new route on social media, AirAsia X – the medium/long-haul arm of budget carrier group AirAsia - has announced its entry into the African market with the launch of new flights to Nairobi, Kenya.
From November 15, AirAsia X will launch its new four-times weekly service between Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi. The outbound flight will depart Kuala Lumpur every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday as D7 101 at around 1900H and arrive at Nairobi at 2300H. The return flight – D7 102 – will depart Nairobi at 0030H every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and arrive back at Kuala Lumpur at 1510H.
With the new route, AirAsia X will be the sole carrier to offer a direct link between Malaysia and Kenya. The move follows what the airline has described as a “solid start to the year,”showcasing a robust trajectory in its financial results with strong load factors and regaining market leadership on the network front.
“We are thrilled to announce a direct new route, bridging Malaysia and Kenya,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A. “This new route not only opens up Asia to Africa but also has the potential to strengthen ties in tourism, business and trade between the two continents. It marks the beginning of a new journey into Africa, and while our roots are in Asia and Asean, our dream has always been to make Kuala Lumpur a global low cost carrier hub.”
According to AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail, the airline anticipates to serve over 156,000 travelers on the new route as it strengthens ties and boost the tourism sectors of both Malaysia and Kenya. The route will offer new connections between AirAsia's network and Africa.
“This route presents excellent connectivity opportunities to other key markets we serve, including Australia, China, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Travellers across the region can now journey more affordably to Kenya, with a convenient stopover in Kuala Lumpur,” Ismail said.
Africa will be the second new market that AirAsia X has entered this year. In March, the airline introduced new flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan – its entry to Central Asia.
Powered by Froala Editor