(Photo: Reuters)The Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X on Wednesday announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via a new hub in Bahrain, using the extended range of narrow-body jets to stitch fresh routes alongside ​established carriers. The service, due to ⁠start in June, would make Bahrain AirAsia X’s first hub outside Asia, placing it within reach of busy markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. It also marks a return to the British capital more than ‌a decade after the airline suspended non-stop flights from Kuala Lumpur and retired its Airbus A340 jets. AirAsia ​plans ⁠to redeploy its larger A330s to longer routes while building up the Bahrain hub, with possible African destinations including the Maghreb region, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and Kenya. Fernandes played down direct competition with Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, positioning AirAsia X as a budget option aimed at a different market.

Source: Bangkok Post February 11, 2026 12:50 UTC