Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) welcomed Turkmenistan Airlines’ inaugural flight from Ashgabat to Kuala Lumpur, making it the second Central Asia’s airline with direct flights to Kuala Lumpur.
In a statement today (Feb 15), Tourism Malaysia said the inaugural flight with 228 passengers was welcomed with a grand water canon salute, while models adorned in national costume of both countries greeted the pasenggers.
The occasion was witnessed by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Sri Tiong King Sing and Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Malaysia Muhammetnyyaz Mashalov, along with representatives from Turkmenistan Airlines.
The twice-weekly scheduled flights are operated by Boeing 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft, boasting seating capacities of 289 and 368, respectively.
Departing from Ashgabat every Wednesday and Thursday, this new connectivity is poised to significantly enhance arrivals from Central Asia and Russia, facilitating seamless travel between regions.
The flight duration from Ashgabat to Kuala Lumpur is a mere 8 hours and 10 minutes, offering passengers swift and convenient access to Malaysia’s vibrant capital.
Tourism Malaysia said in line with the commitment to expanding tourism accessibility, it is actively pursuing strategic collaborations with international airlines, aiming to stimulate increased travel demand from Central Asia through innovative partnerships and initiatives.
This effort aligns with Malaysia’s target of welcoming 35.6 million tourists during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, it added.
From January to November 2023, Malaysia experienced a notable surge in tourism from Central Asia, welcoming a total of 21,910 tourists, a 196.7% increase compared to 2022.
Concurrently, arrivals from Russia also soared, with Malaysia hosting 100,645 Russian visitors during the same period, a 360% surge from 2022 and a notable 39.5% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
