Latest news with #BenyaminIsmail
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
AirAsia X eyes Central Asia in expansion plan
SEPANG: 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. 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. 'The Central Asian market is still underserved. 'For example, Almaty, if there was no AirAsia X, it would take 18 hours to get there. But with AirAsia X, it will only take 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 are looking at Turkiye, Azerbaijan and other Central Asia countries and hopefully, this will be a platform for us to Europe,' he told the media after the launch of the airline's new route to Tashkent yesterday. According to Benyamin, 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 efforts to expand across Asia and beyond. 'We have seen a significant increase in tourism demand to Central Asia following the impressive performance of the Almaty route,' he added. — Bernama
Hype Malaysia
25-06-2025
- Business
- Hype Malaysia
AirAsia X Goes Big On Central Asia With New Route To Magical Tashkent, Uzbekistan
We're off to Central Asia, fam! AirAsia X is celebrating its growing presence in Central Asia with the announcement of a brand new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, commencing on 15th October 2025 with a frequency of three times a week. After launching flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan in early 2024 with strong demand, AAX is now adding Tashkent to its network. The new route aims to boost travel between Southeast Asia and Central Asia, strengthening trade, tourism, and business links. With AirAsia's Fly-Thru service, travellers from ASEAN and Australia can now explore Uzbekistan more affordably, with easy connections to over 130 destinations worldwide. Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said: 'The launch of our Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent route is a strategic milestone in AAX's continued growth across Asia and beyond. Central Asia presents immense potential, with Uzbekistan's economy growing steadily and a rising middle class eager to explore new destinations. 'We have seen a marked increase in passenger demand for Central Asia following our successful Almaty route, and our vision is to create a comprehensive network that supports regional development and connects people to new places whilst creating unforgettable travel experiences along the way.' H.E. Mr. Karomidin Gadoev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia, commented: 'The commencement of direct flights by AAX between these two major cities is a landmark development for Uzbekistan-Malaysia relations. 'With Uzbekistan's tourism sector expanding rapidly and Malaysia's strong position as a tourism and business hub in Southeast Asia, this route will significantly enhance connectivity, foster tourism exchanges, and open new avenues for investment. We are excited to welcome AAX to this promising market and look forward to a fruitful venture.' Travellers can soon experience the magic of Tashkent with a promotional introductory fare from RM99 all-in* one-way economy seats starting from 23rd – 29th June 2025 for the travel period between 15th October 2025 and 14th September 2026. This special fare is subject to availability, with subsequent fares starting from RM899**. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is a vibrant city known for its beautiful Islamic architecture, lively bazaars, and green parks. Travellers can explore the historic Silk Road and admire the city's impressive landmarks. As Uzbekistan's largest city and economic centre, Tashkent is becoming a popular spot for both tourists and business travelers. Flight Schedule Between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) & Tashkent (TAS): *All-in introductory fares are for one-way travel inclusive of airport taxes, regulatory fees, fuel surcharge, other relevant taxes and applicable fees. Seats are limited on a first come first serve basis starting 23 June 2025. For flights departing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia only. Other terms and conditions apply. **All-in fares are quoted for one-way travel only, including passenger service charges, regulatory service charges, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Terms and conditions apply. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
The Star
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Trading ideas: Yinson, Willowglen, AirAsia X, Mulpha, Enra, LBS, CAB, Hiap Huat, Cuckoo, Pan Merchant, ASM, Foodie Media, Magni-Tech
KUALA LUMPUR: Here is a recap of the announcements that made headlines in Corporate Malaysia. Yinson Holdings Bhd has announced that its FPSO unit, Yinson Bergenia Production BV, is considering the issuance of up to US$1.2bn (RM5.2bn) in bonds. Willowglen MSC Bhd 's wholly-owned subsidiary, Willowglen Services Pte Ltd, has been awarded a contract worth RM15.3mn by SP PowerAssets Ltd, Singapore, for the maintenance of partial discharge systems. AirAsia X Bhd chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said the aviation group's RM1bn private placement is being finalised and still slated for completion by end-July. Mulpha International Bhd 's indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Mulpha Marymount Pty Ltd has accepted a cash advance facility of A$73.8mn or approximately RM203.8mn from National Australia Bank Ltd. Enra Group Bhd , through subsidiary Hexagon Energy Logistics Sdn Bhd, has signed a US$32.1mn deal with SIP JDA Sdn Bhd to provide a storage tanker for Carigali-PTTEPI's oil and gas operations at the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area. LBS Bina Group Bhd has launched Centrum Iris, the second phase of its Cameron Centrum township, marking it as the largest mixed commercial development in Cameron Highlands with a gross development value of RM472mn. CAB Cakaran Corp Bhd has revealed that the recent cyber attack on 51%-owned Farm's Best Food Industries Sdn Bhd, has not resulted in any material impact on the latter's operations or financial performance. Hiap Huat Holdings Bhd is buying a 20,000-square-metre industrial land and assets located in Kemaman, Terengganu for RM9.5mn. HSS Engineers Bhd via its wholly-owned subsidiary HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd has been hired for building information modelling and engineering design consultancy services by M/s Ocean Lifespaces India Pvt Ltd. Cuckoo International (MAL) Bhd announced a strategic collaboration with Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd to launch a new generation of smart home solutions in Malaysia. Solid-liquid filtration solutions provider Pan Merchant Bhd will proceed with its initial public offering and ACE Market debut on June 26, 2025, following cautious market reception and moderate subscription levels. ASM Automation Group Bhd, which is slated for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on July 2, said the 26.7mn new shares it offered to the public under its IPO have been oversubscribed by 1.3 times. Digital media publishing company Foodie Media Bhd, which operates the KL Foodie social media brands, is planning to raise funds through an initial public offering on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia to support workforce expansion and the purchase of a live streaming building. Magni-Tech Industries Bhd 's net profit for the 4QFY2025 fell 18.1% to RM28.3mn from RM34.5mn a year earlier, mainly due to lower revenue from both the garment and packaging segments.
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
AirAsia X expands Central Asia reach with new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan
SEPANG: AirAsia X (AAX) announced today a new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, commencing on Oct 15 with a frequency of three times a week. Following AAX's entry into the region with Almaty, Kazakhstan in early 2024, with a consistently strong load factor and increased flight frequencies, the Tashkent route is aimed at further facilitating air travel between Southeast Asia and Central Asia, fostering stronger trade, tourism and business ties between the regions. This connectivity will enable more travellers in Asean as well as Australia, to explore Uzbekistan affordability with AirAsia's Fly-Thru options, spanning over 130 destinations worldwide. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said: 'The launch of our Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent route is a strategic milestone in AAX's continued growth across Asia and beyond. Central Asia presents immense potential, with Uzbekistan's economy growing steadily and a rising middle class eager to explore new destinations. 'We have seen a marked increase in passenger demand for Central Asia following our successful Almaty route, and our vision is to create a comprehensive network that supports regional development and connects people to new places whilst creating unforgettable travel experiences along the way.' Meanwhile, Uzbekistan ambassador to Malaysia Karomidin Gadoev commented: 'The commencement of direct flights by AAX between these two major cities is a landmark development for Uzbekistan-Malaysia relations. With Uzbekistan's tourism sector expanding rapidly and Malaysia's strong position as a tourism and business hub in Southeast Asia, this route will significantly enhance connectivity, foster tourism exchanges, and open new avenues for investment. We are excited to welcome AAX to this promising market and look forward to a fruitful venture.' To mark AAX's commencement of the Tashkent service, travellers will get a promotional introductory fare from RM99 all-in one-way economy seats starting fromtoday until June 29 for the travel period between Oct 15, 2025 and Sept 14, 2026. This special fare is subject to availability, with subsequent fares starting from RM899.
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia X targets Central Asia in expansion push
SEPANG: Medium-haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X Bhd plans to focus its flight network expansion on Central Asia, citing strong market potential and the region's status as relatively underserved by commercial airlines. Chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said the airline began flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan, in March last year and will launch a new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this October. Another new destination is expected to be announced soon. "The Central Asian market is still underserved. Not many airlines fly there. For example, without AirAsia X, getting to Almaty could take up to 18 hours — with AirAsia X, it's just eight hours on a direct flight. "We're focusing on this region. We've started with Almaty, and another route is in development. We're also eyeing Turkiye, Azerbaijan and other Central Asian countries. Hopefully, this will eventually serve as a platform for expansion into Europe," he told reporters after launching the Kuala Lumpur–Tashkent route today. Benyamin said Central Asia not only offers lower tourism costs but also rich historical and Islamic cultural value, making it attractive to Malaysian travellers. He said the Tashkent route launch marked a strategic milestone in the airline's ongoing expansion across Asia and beyond. "Central Asia holds great potential, with Uzbekistan's economy growing rapidly and a rising middle class keen to explore new destinations. "We've seen strong demand for Central Asia travel following the success of the Almaty route. "Our vision is to build a comprehensive network to support regional development, connect travellers to new destinations, and deliver unforgettable travel experiences," he said. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Karomidin Gadoev, said the launch of AirAsia X's direct flight to Tashkent was a significant development in Malaysia–Uzbekistan 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 enhance connectivity, boost tourism exchanges, and offer new investment opportunities. "We are delighted to welcome AirAsia X to this promising market and hope this collaboration yields positive results," he said. According to AirAsia X, promotional fares for the new route start from RM99 for economy seats, available for booking between June 23 and 29, for travel from Oct 15, 2025, to Sept 14, 2026. Located in the heart of Uzbekistan, the capital city of Tashkent is a rapidly developing destination known for its stunning Islamic architecture, bustling bazaars and lush green parks.
