AirAsia X is busy at the moment, with it establishing routes to Bahrain and onward to London Gatwick.
AirAsia X Airbus A330-300 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Bahrain, with the airline firming up its letter of intent to establish a base in the Kingdom, as AirAsia X plans to build out its long-haul network with a new hub.
The Bahrain-London sector would be AirAsiaX’s second Fifth-Freedom route, marking the expansion of the airline beyond its homeground Asia, to serve the global budget travel sector.
The new route will commence on 26 June 2026, with Bahrain being AirAsia’s first hub outside of its home region.
Planned operations are as follows
Kuala Lumpur – Bahrain
DY972 DEPART KUL 22:00 ARRIVE BAH 00:40+1 DY 973 DEPART BAH 20:55 ARRIVE KUL 09:55+1 Commences: 26 June 2026 from KUL Operates Daily Booked Equipment: Airbus A330-300
Kuala Lumpur – Bahrain – London Gatwick
D7972 DEPART KUL 22:00 ARRIVE BAH 00:40 DEPART BAH 02:25 ARRIVE LGW 07:25, MON, WED, SAT, SUN D7972 DEPART KUL 22:00 ARRIVE BAH 00:40 DEPART BAH 02:25 ARRIVE LGW 07:20, TUE D7972 DEPART KUL 22:00 ARRIVE BAH 00:40 DEPART BAH 02:05 ARRIVE LGW 07:05, FRI D7972 DEPART KUL 22:00 ARRIVE BAH 00:40 DEPART BAH 02:25 ARRIVE LGW 07:30, THU DY973 LGW 10:25 ARRIVE BAH 18:55 DEPART BAH 20:55 ARRIVE KUL09:55 , DAILY Commences: 26 June 2026 from KUL Operates Daily. Slight variations at BAH - see above on daily variations Booked Equipment: Airbus A330-300
Air Asia will use its Airbus A330-300 fleet on this route (which has up to four different configurations). Note that the usual 2-4-2 seat layout in Economy Class is replaced with a dense 3-3-3 layout, which is operated through the AirAsia X fleet.
AirAsia X has established Kuala Lumpur as its major gateway, connecting travellers to 95 destinations across 23 Asian countries with nearly 2,000 weekly flights, including routes to Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Australia and Japan. The new route will broaden access for travellers from Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam and other key markets, creating more affordable and convenient pathways to Bahrain and London.
In Quotes
On the launch of the AirAsia hub in Bahrain and the launch of the London Gatwick Route, Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia X, said:
“This milestone reflects the broader transformation of AAX into a truly globally connected airline. We navigated one of the most challenging periods in aviation history and emerged from the pandemic stronger and more focused. Now, we are rebuilding with discipline – backed by a secured orderbook of 374 aircraft and counting, as well as a comprehensive five-year growth plan that will see us steadily cementing our footprint across the regions. Bahrain fits squarely into our long-term network blueprint to link ASEAN and Asia to the world. Our focus remains on disciplined fleet expansion, strengthening core hubs, driving ancillary and digital growth, ensuring every new market strengthens the overall network. This is how. we create sustainable value for the group of airlines while continuing to democratise long-haul travel.”
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia X, said:
“This is a defining step in the next phase of AAX’s growth. Bahrain as our strategic aviation hub allows us to connect Asia with the Middle East and Europe more effectively while creating a scalable platform for future 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. Today, Teleport marks an important milestone as its first flight arrives in Bahrain, following its recent USD50 million capital raise – a move that will help position the Kingdom as a key aviation and logistics hub in the region. Looking ahead, we will deepen partnerships with airports, tourism authorities and industry stakeholders to unlock new demand corridors. We are building a growth engine that balances connectivity, commercial performance and operational resilience, while staying true to our value proposition of affordable long-haul travel.”
H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, 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. The investment will reinforce Bahrain’s position as a key gateway linking Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, while delivering tangible economic benefits. It will create direct employment across aviation operations and generate wider opportunities across tourism, logistics, hospitality, and related services. Just as importantly, it will support skills development and long-term career pathways for Bahrainis in a global industry that continues to evolve and grow. We are proud to welcome AirAsia X as a member of TeamBahrain.”
A New London Adventure
AirAsia X is no stranger to serving London, with the airline serving the route between Kuala Lumpur and London Stansted in 2009, with the route shifting to Gatwick in 2011, and then suspended in 2012.
Then, it ran non-stop routes between Kuala Lumpur and London. This time, it’s taking advantage of a stop in Bahrain, allowing for new passenger flows on the route.
This will make sense in the future, as the airline will pivot away from the widebody Airbus A330-300 and switch to the Airbus A321XLR as its choice of long-haul travel, allowing for lower pilot costs (as the fleet will be cenrtered on the Airbus A320 famlily), as well as able to deploy the XLR flexibly – and those extra long fuel tanks help in that deploymoent.
We’ll have to see how popular the route is, and if the low cost is enough for people to put up with a tighter seat and a transit in Bahrain.
As for the Bahrain base, it will offer the airline a lot of options, allowing for connectivity in all directions – either with a normal Airbus A320, A320neo, A321 or A321neo. How the airline chooses to deal with the political and governmental costs of entering new markets will be interesting to watch, along with the routes it chooses to launch.
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