AirAsia X is making a decisive return to the European long haul market, unveiling a new Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain–London Gatwick service and confirming Bahrain as its first global hub outside Southeast Asia. The move marks a new phase in the Malaysian long haul low cost carrier’s strategy, strengthening connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, Europe and eventually Africa, and positioning the airline to take advantage of next generation narrowbody aircraft such as the Airbus A321XLR for future expansion.
A New Gulf Hub for a Recharged Long Haul Strategy
Announced in Manama on 11 February 2026, the Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain–London Gatwick route is scheduled to begin operations on 26 June 2026. The daily service will connect Malaysia’s main international gateway with the United Kingdom via a late night departure from Kuala Lumpur, a short overnight stop in Bahrain and an early morning arrival into London. The return leg leaves London mid morning and reaches Kuala Lumpur the following day after an evening transit in Bahrain.
For AirAsia X, the decision to make Bahrain its first global hub is the culmination of a broader strategy that has been building since a Letter of Intent was signed between parent company Capital A and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications in November 2025. The Kingdom’s location in the Gulf, its modern airport infrastructure and its ambition to position itself as an aviation and logistics centre made it a natural partner for a carrier that specialises in connecting secondary and leisure driven markets at low fares.
By anchoring its Europe services at Bahrain rather than attempting ultra long nonstop flights, AirAsia X can work within the range and economics of its current Airbus A330 fleet, while creating new connection possibilities. Travellers from across Southeast Asia, Australia and parts of East Asia will be able to route through Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain to reach London and, over time, other points in Europe, North Africa and the wider Middle East as additional routes are added.
The hub decision also reflects Bahrain’s own economic diversification agenda. Local officials have highlighted the potential for job creation in aviation, tourism and logistics, as well as the opportunity to develop skills and long term careers for Bahrainis in one of the world’s most globally connected industries.
London Returns to the AirAsia X Network
The London announcement carries particular symbolism for AirAsia X. The airline previously operated nonstop services from Kuala Lumpur to London Stansted and later London Gatwick between 2009 and 2012, using four engine Airbus A340 aircraft. Those flights ended amid high fuel prices and a challenging cost structure, a reminder of how sensitive long haul low cost operations can be to external shocks and aircraft economics.
The 2026 return, this time via Bahrain, marks the carrier’s first European service in around fourteen years. Operating with more fuel efficient twin engine Airbus A330 300 aircraft, AirAsia X is seeking to balance its trademark low fares with a more sustainable operating model. The one stop routing is expected to result in a total journey time of roughly sixteen and a half hours between Kuala Lumpur and London, competitive with other one stop options via the Gulf.
The Bahrain to London sector will be operated as a so called fifth freedom route, allowing the airline to carry local traffic between the two cities as well as connecting passengers. This will be only the second such route in AirAsia X’s history and underlines the carrier’s ambition to evolve from a point to point operator focused on Southeast Asia into a player in the broader global budget travel market.
Gatwick Airport, London’s second largest gateway, gains yet another long haul carrier with this launch. For the airport, AirAsia X’s daily flights support its strategy of offering passengers a wider mix of full service and low cost options on intercontinental routes, while feeding the strong leisure and visiting friends and relatives demand between the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia.
Low Fares and Premium Flatbeds on the New Route
In keeping with its established model, AirAsia X is using sharply priced introductory fares to stimulate demand and build early load factors on the new route. From Kuala Lumpur, promotional one way fares to Bahrain are starting from just under 100 Malaysian ringgit, with London Gatwick from under 200 ringgit, excluding optional add ons. From Bahrain, launch fares to both Kuala Lumpur and London begin from around the equivalent of forty Bahraini dinars one way, before moving to still competitive standard entry levels once the initial sale period ends.
Beyond the headline prices, the airline is also pushing its Premium Flatbed product as an upgrade option for travellers who want a more comfortable overnight journey without paying traditional business class fares. Promotional flatbed tickets on both the Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain and Bahrain–London sectors are being marketed from mid range price points that are pitched to appeal to small business owners, long stay leisure travellers and price sensitive corporate buyers.
The aircraft operating the route will be high density Airbus A330 300s with a mix of standard economy seating and a smaller premium cabin featuring reclining flatbed style seats, enhanced meals and priority ground services. Although not as spacious as traditional widebody business class products, the flatbeds are a key differentiator in the low cost long haul segment and have proven popular on AirAsia X’s services to Australia, Japan and other medium haul markets.
For many travellers in Southeast Asia and the Gulf, the combination of an overnight departure, relatively short transit in Bahrain and early arrival in London should make the service attractive, particularly for those who prioritise price and schedule flexibility over frequent flyer status or full service frills.
Strengthening Connectivity Between Asia, Europe and Africa
While headlines have focused on the return of London to AirAsia X’s map, the strategic intent runs deeper than a single European destination. By using Bahrain as a mid point hub, the airline gains the ability to develop a network of spoke routes in both directions, potentially linking Kuala Lumpur not only with more cities in Europe but also with North and East Africa and further points in the Middle East.
On the Asian side, AirAsia X and its short haul sister carriers already connect Kuala Lumpur to a web of more than ninety destinations across twenty three countries, from major markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and India to smaller secondary cities that are underserved by legacy airlines. This feed is crucial to making long haul routes viable, as it allows the carrier to draw passengers from multiple origins onto a single trunk service to Bahrain and onward to Europe or, in future, Africa.
On the western side of the hub, Bahrain’s location on the Gulf places it within narrowbody flying range of many key markets in the Middle East, the eastern Mediterranean, parts of Eastern Europe and the Horn of Africa. Over time, as bilaterals and commercial partnerships permit, AirAsia X and its partners could introduce additional routes from Bahrain to cities in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Kenya or Tanzania, among others, creating new low cost corridors that bypass traditional hubs while still offering connections.
Such a network would also dovetail with Bahrain’s own aspirations to deepen its role as a regional connector. Increased inbound traffic from Asia and Australia would feed the local tourism and hospitality sectors, while outbound travellers from the Gulf would gain more affordable access to Southeast Asian beach destinations, cultural cities and nature escapes via Kuala Lumpur and the wider AirAsia network.
The Role of the Airbus A330 Today and the A321XLR Tomorrow
The backbone of the initial Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain–London operation will be the Airbus A330 300, a widebody aircraft that balances capacity and range in the medium to long haul segment. Configured with several hundred seats in a single aisle economy cabin plus a smaller premium section, the A330 allows AirAsia X to achieve low unit costs while still offering enough comfort and cabin flexibility to appeal to a broad cross section of travellers.
Operationally, routing via Bahrain solves the range challenge that would come with attempting nonstop flights between Kuala Lumpur and London using the A330 300. By splitting the journey, the airline can operate within comfortable payload and fuel parameters, reduce operational risk and make better use of its existing fleet without waiting for new aircraft variants to arrive.
Looking ahead, the airline and its parent group have signalled strong interest in the Airbus A321XLR, the extra long range version of Airbus’s popular single aisle family. The A321XLR is designed to fly up to around eight to nine hours, opening up thinner long haul markets that do not require the capacity of a widebody. For AirAsia X and the broader AirAsia ecosystem, this aircraft type could be a game changer for routes radiating from both Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain.
With an A321XLR, AirAsia could in future contemplate direct services from Bahrain to secondary European cities, smaller African gateways or emerging destinations in Central and Eastern Europe that might not sustain a larger widebody but could work with the lower trip cost of a narrowbody. Similarly, from Kuala Lumpur, the aircraft could reach deeper into North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and potentially as far as northern Australia, creating new one stop combinations when paired with flights to and from Bahrain.
Competition, Partnerships and Market Impact
The new route launches into an already competitive market for travel between Southeast Asia and Europe, where legacy carriers from the Gulf, Europe and Asia dominate. Full service airlines offer extensive schedules, frequent flyer programmes and premium cabins, while other low cost and hybrid models are also experimenting with long haul leisure oriented services. Against this backdrop, AirAsia X is banking on its pure low fare proposition, simplified product and strong brand recognition across Asia to carve out a niche.
The one stop routing via Bahrain pits the airline directly against established Gulf carriers that have long captured a significant share of Malaysia–Europe traffic. However, AirAsia X’s pricing, unbundled services and the growing appeal of London Gatwick as an alternative to Heathrow could give it an edge among cost conscious travellers, students, migrant workers and backpackers who are less concerned with alliance benefits and more focused on overall trip cost.
Partnerships will likely be another piece of the puzzle. AirAsia X already benefits from feed provided by short haul AirAsia carriers, and there is scope for deeper coordination on schedules, through check in and marketing campaigns. In Bahrain, closer collaboration with local authorities and airport operators will be essential to optimise transfer flows, streamline minimum connection times and create a smooth transit experience that can compete with larger Gulf hubs.
For the broader market, the entry of a new long haul low cost player on the Kuala Lumpur–London axis is expected to exert downward pressure on fares, particularly in the economy segment. Other airlines may respond with promotional offers or capacity adjustments, leading to a more dynamic and price sensitive environment for travellers considering one stop options between Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Europe and in time, Africa.
What the New Route Means for Travellers
For passengers, the most immediate effect of AirAsia X’s Bahrain hub and London service will be increased choice. Travellers in Malaysia gain another one stop option to the United Kingdom in addition to existing routings via the Gulf and other Asian hubs. Residents of Bahrain and neighbouring Gulf states receive a new low cost link to both Kuala Lumpur and London, opening the door to more affordable holidays in Southeast Asia or Europe.
Australians and travellers from cities such as Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok or Colombo, already served by the AirAsia network, can also tap into the new route via Kuala Lumpur, potentially shaving costs compared with traditional full service options. The trade off will often be a less inclusive product, with extras such as baggage, seat selection and meals sold separately, but for many price sensitive travellers this is an acceptable exchange.
Over the medium term, as the Bahrain hub concept matures and the potential of aircraft like the Airbus A321XLR is realised, travellers could see an even wider choice of city pairs that were previously difficult or expensive to reach. Secondary European cities, emerging African tourism markets and niche destinations in the Middle East will be better connected to Southeast Asia’s fast growing outbound market.
For now, the launch of the Kuala Lumpur–Bahrain–London Gatwick route is an important signal that long haul low cost carriers remain willing to innovate in their network and fleet strategies. AirAsia X’s pivot through Bahrain, supported by current Airbus A330s and with an eye on future A321XLR opportunities, underlines how geography, aircraft technology and evolving passenger demand are reshaping the map between Asia, Europe and Africa.