OREANDA-NEWS. KL International Airport (KLIA) ushered 2015 on a bright note with the inauguration of Turkmenistan Airlines service to KLIA. With the inclusion of Turkmenistan Airlines, the list of international airlines serving KLIA grows to 64.

Turkmenistan Airlines operates one flight weekly on the Ashgabat-Kuala Lumpur vice versa route every Thursday. The airline utilises Boeing 777-200LR aircraft for this route. The flight from Ashgabat to Kuala Lumpur takes approximately eight hours.

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports said, "The presence of Turkmenistan Airlines in KLIA today will also further promote KLIA's status as a preferred hub in this region. Travellers have the option to use KLIA via Turkmenistan Airlines as a connector to other parts of Europe and Asia. I am confident this bilateral relationship will also increase the image and prestige of Turkmenistan Airlines as a transportation conduit among air travellers in this region."

After the aircraft was given a traditional welcome of aircraft showering, the arriving passengers of flight T5681 were greeted by YB Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi, Deputy Minister of Transport accompanied by H.E. Mr. Yazkuli Mammedov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Malaysia, together with Datuk Badlisham.

The arrival of Turkmenistan Airline into KLIA was another great achievement of Malaysia's aviation industry. In line with 2015 being Malaysia Year of Festivals, the inclusion of new airline will further drive the success of Malaysia's aviation and tourism growth in 2015. KLIA recorded 48.9 million passengers in 2014, 3.0% above 2013 and with new airlines coming into KLIA, KLIA is on the right track to perform better this year.

Malaysia Airports will continue with its relentless marketing effort, keen collaboration with the Government, Tourism Malaysia and relevant stakeholders, towards promoting Malaysia as a choice destination.

Presently Turkmenistan Airlines' flies regularly to 15 cities in Europe and Asia: Abu-Dhabi, Alma-Ata, Amritsar, Bangkok, Birmingham, Delhi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kiev, London, Minsk, Moscow, Beijing, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, as they serve between in capital and regional centers, and also between regional centers within Turkmenistan.