AirAsia X to Launch First African Route

‍DALLAS – AirAsia X (D7) has announced its first African route from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Nairobi (NBO). The new route will connect the two capitals starting November 15, 2024.

This announcement marks a historic achievement for D7 as the only Malaysian low-cost carrier (LCC) to offer direct flights to the African continent. The budget carrier will offer four weekly flights on the route by an Airbus A330-300. Flights will operate as follows :

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Nairobi will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

• Kuala Lumpur (KUL) - Nairobi (NBO): Departs at 19:00, arriving at 23:00.

Flights from Nairobi to Kuala Lumpur will operate on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

•  Nairobi (NBO) - Kuala Lumpur (KUL): Departs at 00:30, arriving at 15:10.

Connecting Asia, Africa

The Nairobi route serves as a crucial link in connecting Asia to Africa. Furthermore, it fosters stronger regional trade, tourism, and business ties. By facilitating direct air travel between KUL and NBO, the LCC aims to enhance accessibility and spur economic opportunities for both countries. In addition, this route will also benefit travelers and will also increase tourism flows. 

“We are thrilled to announce a direct new route, bridging Malaysia and Kenya. 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,” said Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A.

AirAsia X aims to offer a seamless fly-thru connection, creating a vital link between Kenya and 130 destinations across Southeast Asia, Northern and Central Asia, and Australia providing affordable and convenient travel options while reinforcing its commitment to global connectivity.

The carrier is also exploring opportunities to launch flights to other destinations in Africa. This includes Cairo (CAI) and Cape Town (CPT). The LCC previously operated flights to the Indian Ocean region but dropped these some years back. D7 also used to offer long-haul services to the island of Mauritius in 2016 and 2017.