In a move that will reinforce the ties between Malaysia and Pakistan, AirAsia X has announced the launch of direct flights between the city of Karachi and Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
The Asian budget airline officially commenced operations on Friday, May 30, 2025, with the arrival of its debut flight in the Pakistani city, The flight was welcomed at the Jinnah International Airport with a traditional water salute. The inaugural flight carried 298 passengers and returned back to Kuala Lumpur with 315 travelers on board.
The welcome ceremony at the Jinnah International Airport was attended by the CEO of TCB Aviation, Khawaja Ali Kamal Majeed, and the Malaysian Consul General. Majeed addressed the media and stated that the partnership was a “turning point for Pakistan’s aviation sector”. Serving as Pakistani airline’s GSA (General Sales Assistant), TCB Aviation played a crucial role in assisting the launch.
AirAsiaX, the only low-cost airline providing constant travel between Kuala Lumpur and Karachi, has scheduled flights to operate four times a week. This partnership vastly focuses on enhancing tourism by lowering travel expenses while also strengthening trade and cultural ties between Pakistan and Malaysia.
The satisfactory load factor percentage during its inaugural flight emphasized the high demand for budget travel between the two countries, which marked an important phase in AirAsiaX’s journey of expanding its international network. The airline has also predicted that it will see an average of 100,000 guests traveling through this route each year.
According to AirAsia, the flights between Kuala Lumpur and Karachi have been scheduled every two days starting Monday, with a flight departing from each city each day. AirAsia X’s long-haul fleet is said to service the flights. The flights are said to prioritize comfort and efficiency when traveling over vast distances, underscoring AirAsia X’s reputation of providing high-quality services at an affordable rate, making it an appealing choice for customers looking for budget-friendly travel options that do not compromise on comfort.
AirAsia X has also announced promotional fares and discounts for early bookers, making it an attractive offer for travelers intending to travel between Karachi and Kuala Lumpur. While Malaysia’s cultural richness makes it a key tourist destination for travelers from around the world, Karachi’s beauty exists in its marvelous architecture and breathtaking views. Holding a population of 20 million, Karachi is also considered the most multicultural city in Pakistan and houses ancient fortresses and museums that display a blend of traditional and Renaissance influences. The city’s bazaars, full of colorful and intricate textiles, and the city’s location along the Arabian Sea, with access to Turtle Beach and nearby islands, make it the perfect hub for a wide variety of travelers.
With simple access between the two hubs, each carrying a rich culture, the travel convenience provided by the new flight service aims to strengthen connectivity and boost tourism as well as business opportunities that could potentially build between the two countries.
In addition to travel and tourism, the establishment of an easy access route between the two cities poises the new flight to feed the growing economic connections between the two countries as well as the rapid surge in international trade and tourism, providing new avenues for economic collaborations.
According to the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of Pakistani citizens living in the country is estimated to be over 200,000 and makes up the largest Pakistani diaspora community in the South Asian region and also makes up the sixth-largest community of the country’s foreign workers.
The CEO of AirAsia X, Benyamin Ismail, made a statement in regard to the newly launched airline service between Malaysia and Pakistan, announcing that “This route will also open up hundreds of seamless connectivity options for travellers to key markets such as Australia, China, Thailand, and more”.
