AirAsia X Considers Bahrain Hub, Eyes Local Air Operator Certificate

Capital A has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing a Middle East hub for its aviation, logistics, and MRO operations at Bahrain International Airport.

Under the agreement, AirAsia Aviation Group will assess launching flights to Bahrain from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia over the next five years, with a goal of operating more than 25 daily flights to the kingdom. The plan also includes evaluating a Bahraini air operator’s certificate (AOC) to operate narrowbody aircraft serving destinations across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Currently, AirAsia X operates to Jeddah International as its only Middle Eastern destination but will expand to Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen on November 14 and Madinah on December 18. Thai AirAsia X is set to launch Riyadh services on December 2.

Capital A’s broader strategy aims to transform the group into a “low-cost narrowbody network carrier” by developing virtual hubs in Europe, the Middle East, and Japan, allowing flights to the U.S. with just two stops from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. The fleet transition includes phasing out A330-300 aircraft by 2031 in favor of A321neo and A321XLR models, while cancelling previous A330-900neo orders.

Asia Digital Engineering, Capital A’s MRO arm, plans to establish a maintenance facility in Bahrain, and its logistics unit, Teleport, will base dedicated freighters there to strengthen links with Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. The initiative aligns with Capital A’s plan to finalize the transfer of its airline business to AirAsia X and form a unified AirAsia Group by year-end.

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