AirAsia X announced on June 11 that it has postponed the planned launch of its new flight service from Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain and onward to London’s Gatwick airport until at least August 2026 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East [1, 2]. The route was originally scheduled to begin in June but the airline now expects to start operations in August or September, depending on market conditions [1, 2].
Affected passengers have been offered refunds or the option to reschedule their bookings as a result of the delay [1, 2]. Despite the postponement, AirAsia X remains committed to establishing a hub in Bahrain. General manager Benyamin Ismail said, "Bahrain continues to play an important role in our long-term growth plans and regional connectivity strategy. We remain focused on launching services to both Bahrain and London Gatwick when the operating environment is better aligned with our operational and commercial objectives" [1, 2].
The airline has faced multiple operational challenges recently, including volatile jet fuel prices. Earlier this year, AirAsia X posted a quarterly net loss, cut about 10% of its flights, and introduced a fuel surcharge of approximately 20% to manage costs [1, 2]. These factors, combined with the regional instability, have influenced the decision to delay the route launch.
AirAsia X is monitoring the situation and plans to resume its original schedule when conditions improve. The next update on the Bahrain-London Gatwick service is expected in August or September 2026, subject to prevailing market and security circumstances [1, 2].
