AirAsia X to Launch Bahrain–Gatwick Flights in 2Q26
AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) will launch daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and London Gatwick via Bahrain starting June 26, 2026, marking a major step in its plan to build a Gulf hub and expand long-haul connectivity between Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The service will operate with an Airbus A330-300 and include fifth-freedom rights on the Bahrain–London Gatwick sector, allowing the carrier to sell tickets solely between Bahrain and the UK. The airline had first outlined plans in 2025 to serve London through a Middle Eastern stopover and began recruitment efforts in Bahrain later that year.
Speaking at a launch event in Manama, Capital A co-founder and CEO Tony Fernandes said the group aims to position Bahrain as a virtual hub linking ASEAN markets with Europe and Africa. The long-term plan envisions basing up to 100 aircraft in Bahrain over the next eight years, targeting 45 million annual passengers across a proposed 120-destination network. A new local entity, Bahrain AirAsia, is being incorporated to support the expansion.
Capital A’s engineering subsidiary, Asia Digital Engineering, also plans to build a 14-bay maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in Bahrain, potentially in collaboration with Gulf Air. The group’s logistics arm, Teleport, is expected to establish a regional cargo hub in the Gulf state.
At the same time, AirAsia X confirmed it has cancelled its remaining order for fifteen Airbus A330-900neo aircraft and intends to phase out widebody operations entirely by the early 2030s. Instead, the airline plans to shift toward long-range narrowbody aircraft.
Fernandes said the group expects to announce an order for approximately 100 regional jets, with options for 50 more, by March 2026. The Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 families are reportedly under evaluation. AirAsia X is also firming up plans for 50 Airbus A321XLR aircraft following a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2025.
The fleet transition will be funded through a combination of sale-and-leaseback transactions and bank financing, as the group pivots toward a more asset-backed growth strategy following its exit from financial distress status.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com