AirAsia Targets Bahrain AOC and Middle East Launch in 2026

AirAsia Aviation Group, which is set to be consolidated with AirAsia X and rebranded back into AirAsia Group, is planning to establish a Middle East hub with a targeted launch in the second half of 2026. Group chief executive Bo Lingam confirmed that initial operations are expected to include flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Bahrain International Airport, with potential connections from Bangkok Don Mueang also under consideration.

Bahrain is being evaluated as a strategic base for onward services to the UK and wider European markets. Lingam highlighted Bahrain’s competitive airport charges and relatively uncongested infrastructure as key advantages compared with Dubai International and Abu Dhabi International airports. As part of the strategy, the group is also assessing the creation of a Bahrain-based air operator’s certificate to support local operations.

AirAsia Aviation Group primarily operates a large fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft (A320ceo/neo, A321neo/LR) for short-haul, low-cost routes, alongside Airbus A330 widebodies for long-haul with AirAsia X, aiming for a young, efficient fleet, with recent strategic moves to expand A321neo/XLR orders and streamline operations for better capacity. While historically using Boeing 737s, the focus is now almost exclusively on Airbus for its various regional carriers (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia). The group has 257 Aircraft (+ 3 On order), and average fleet age 12.5 Years.

To underpin its wider growth strategy across Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines, AirAsia Aviation Group plans to add 11 new aircraft to its fleet in 2026. These include four Airbus A321-200neo LR aircraft and seven A321-200neo jets, supplemented by between 15 and 30 leased A320-200 aircraft to provide additional capacity and operational flexibility.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com