On 2 December 2025, H.E. Mrs. Piyapin Niyomrerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, presided over the press conference for the launch of the new direct “Almaty-Bangkok (Don Mueang)” route operated by Thai AirAsia X, held at the Rixos Hotel in Almaty. The event was co-hosted with Mrs. Pattra Boosarawongse, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia X Co., Ltd., and attended by Ms. Kanchana Sing-udom, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Moscow Office with responsibility for Kazakhstan, representatives of Kazakhstani government agencies, executives of Almaty International Airport, as well as a large number of media representatives and tourism industry stakeholders. The launch of this direct route marks a significant milestone in air connectivity between Thailand and Kazakhstan, as well as the broader Central Asian region, as it represents the first time a Thai airline has operated direct flights to Kazakhstan. This development reflects the strong confidence of Thailand’s aviation industry in the region’s economic and tourism potential.

On this occasion, the Ambassador expressed her congratulations on the inauguration of the Almaty-Bangkok (Don Mueang) direct service, which will be operated by Airbus A330 aircraft with four flights per week. She emphasized that the new direct flight is not merely a strategic expansion of air routes, but the opening of a new chapter in the Thailand-Kazakhstan relationship, which has spanned more than 33 years. Efficient and seamless air connectivity has a direct impact on the movement of people, ideas, and economic opportunities, particularly as Kazakhstan has emerged as one of Thailand’s fastest-growing tourism markets. In 2024, Thailand welcomed nearly 200,000 visitors from Kazakhstan, underscoring Thailand’s continued popularity as a preferred travel destination among Kazakh tourists. At the same time, the new route is expected to foster balanced two-way travel, encouraging more Thai travelers to visit and explore Kazakhstan, including its magnificent natural landscapes, rich cultural diversity, and the rapidly growing potential of cities across Central Asia.

In the same context, Mrs. Pattra Boosarawongse, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia X Co., Ltd., stated that the inaugural flight was highly successful, achieving a load factor of nearly 85 percent, particularly among adventurous travelers and younger generations. She also highlighted the convenience of onward connections to domestic destinations across Thailand, supported by Thai AirAsia X’s extensive route network covering all regions of the country. In addition, to promote tourism potential and strengthen travel connectivity between Thailand and Kazakhstan, Thai Air Asia X Co., Ltd. provided two round-trip international air tickets on the Almaty-Bangkok (Don Mueang) route to the Royal Thai Embassy as prizes for the Thailand National Day Reception 2025, held on 4 December 2025 at the St. Regis Astana Hotel in Astana, which was attended by more than 200 guests.