London, Feb 13, 2026, 12:10 GMT
Starting June 26, 2026, AirAsia X will launch daily service between London Gatwick and Kuala Lumpur, routing through Bahrain with Airbus A330s, according to the airport. Gatwick CEO Pierre-Hugues Schmit called the move “fantastic news” for travelers. For AirAsia X, CEO Bo Lingam described the route as a “significant milestone” for the airline. mediacentre.gatwickairport.com
This route shifts the dynamics, returning a low-cost carrier — offering bare-bones tickets with paid extras — to the UK-to-Southeast Asia corridor, a market that’s seen few affordable long-haul choices. Bahrain, no longer just a stop, picks up added significance as a transfer point, influencing air traffic flows, employment, and the airport rivalry.
AirAsia X is zeroing in on Bahrain, aiming to make it the group’s first operational hub outside Asia, according to co-founder Tony Fernandes. The strategy: ramp up flight connections into Bahrain, then use the Gulf state as a springboard to reach Africa and Europe. Fernandes shrugged off concerns about going head-to-head with established Gulf players like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Connecting Travel says the daily flight will depart Kuala Lumpur at 22:00, stop in Bahrain for roughly an hour and a half, and then head to Gatwick. The outlet also noted that AirAsia X is looking into obtaining a Bahrain-based air operator certificate (AOC)—a regulatory step required for running an airline—as it ramps up operations in the Gulf.
According to industry site ch-aviation, the first phase will see an A330-300 on the Bahrain–Gatwick route, with fifth-freedom rights letting the airline sell seats between those two foreign cities. The report notes the group’s eight-year goal: 100 aircraft stationed in Bahrain. A local operation is in the works too, alongside plans for a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility and a logistics hub for Teleport’s Middle East cargo.
Bahrain’s move comes on the heels of a letter of intent inked Nov. 3, 2025, between Capital A and the country’s transport ministry, according to Bernama. AirAsia X CEO Lingam described the carrier’s rebuild as “disciplined,” pointing to its locked-in lineup of 374 planes. Bahrain’s finance minister expects the partnership to translate into jobs and ripple through tourism, logistics, and hospitality. BERNAMA
The route launch comes as AirAsia revamps its fleet strategy. Fernandes told Reuters the company will likely pick between Airbus and Embraer for a big order of smaller regional jets within a month—these short-haul planes usually serve less busy routes. At the same time, AirAsia plans to scrap its last order for 15 Airbus A330neo widebodies, the two-aisle jets it once eyed for long-haul flights.
AirAsia X announced plans to launch introductory one-way fares, starting at RM99 to Bahrain and RM199 to London, according to a company release via Markets Insider. Tickets can be booked until Feb. 22 for trips scheduled between June 26 and Nov. 30, 2026. The Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain–London route is set to run on the airline’s A330s.
Back in 2012, AirAsia axed its nonstop London service after fuel costs soared and competition squeezed margins, according to Skift. Now, the carrier is taking a different tack: adding a stop in Bahrain. Executives hope this shift will both cut exposure to risk and open up access to more connecting passengers for the revived route.
Low-cost long-haul flights run on slim margins, and adding a third leg just increases the risk—delays, missed connections, unexpected expenses. To make daily service work, demand needs to stay strong. That gets trickier if competitors jump in with aggressive fares or pack on more seats.
There’s still over four months before those inaugural flights, a window for AirAsia X to fill planes and secure operational sign-offs. The market also gets a stretch to assess if the Bahrain hub plan has legs beyond just this marquee route.
