AirAsia X announced plans to establish Bahrain as its first hub outside Asia. The strategic move will connect Southeast Asia with the Middle East and Europe through a new route to London.
The Malaysian low-cost carrier announced plans to launch service between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), Bahrain International Airport (BAH), and London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) starting in June 2026.
This marks AirAsia X’s return to the British capital more than a decade after suspending direct flights. The development follows a Letter of Intent signed in November 2025 between parent company Capital A and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.
The expansion marks a significant milestone in AirAsia X’s post-pandemic recovery strategy. The airline has emerged from one of aviation’s most challenging periods with what executives describe as renewed focus and financial discipline, backed by an order book of 374 aircraft.
Bahrain’s strategic positioning
Bahrain’s geographic location makes it an attractive gateway for connecting Asia with Europe and the Middle East. The kingdom sits at the crossroads of major travel corridors, offering AirAsia X the opportunity to tap into traffic flows that would be difficult to serve with point-to-point routes from its Malaysian base.
“This milestone reflects the broader transformation of AAX into a truly globally connected airline,” said Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia X. “We navigated one of the most challenging periods in aviation history and emerged from the pandemic stronger and more focused.”
The airline’s choice of Bahrain also aligns with the kingdom’s push to position itself as a regional aviation hub. H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, said: : “This agreement with AirAsia X is a strategic decision that reflects Bahrain’s strength as an economic partner, and its role as a centre for regional and global connectivity.”
Bahrain will serve as a strategic aviation hub for AirAsia, connecting Asia with the Middle East and Europe while enabling a scalable platform for future growth.https://t.co/k2xIHVBb4z
— AirAsia (@airasia) February 11, 2026
Return to London
The Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route marks AirAsia X’s return to the UK market after suspending direct flights to Gatwick and Stansted airports more than 10 years ago. At that time, the airline operated long-haul Airbus A340s before retiring the fleet as part of a strategic shift.
The new service will use AirAsia X’s A330 fleet, which also serves the airline’s recently launched Istanbul route. The twin-aisle aircraft offer the range and capacity needed for the Middle East operations while maintaining the cost efficiency central to the low-cost carrier model.
Broader consolidation
The Bahrain expansion comes as AirAsia completes a significant restructuring. In January 2026, the group finished acquiring all short-haul aviation businesses from parent Capital A, unifying seven airlines under the AirAsia X banner. The consolidation aims to streamline operations and reduce costs while allowing Capital A to focus on financial recovery.
The parent company faced severe challenges during the pandemic, becoming classified as financially distressed under Malaysia’s PN17 framework. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and AirAsia co-founder, confirmed the group has completed its regularization plan, setting the stage for renewed growth.
“Beyond the airline, this partnership strengthens the broader aviation ecosystem, enabling Capital A businesses such as cargo and MRO services to scale alongside AAX,” Fernandes said, noting that Teleport cargo operations have already begun serving Bahrain following a $50 million capital raise.
Testing the model
For the low-cost long-haul model that AirAsia X pioneered in Asia, Bahrain serves as a test case for expansion into new regions. The airline’s success in connecting secondary cities across Asia with affordable long-haul service created a template that competitors have since adopted.
Whether that model translates to Middle Eastern operations remains to be seen, particularly given the region’s established network carriers and different travel patterns.