Dhaka, Feb. 14 -- Malaysian low-cost long-haul carrier AirAsia X announced plans to establish Bahrain as its first hub outside Southeast Asia, marking a major step in its international expansion strategy. In addition, the airline will launch a new service linking Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain, and London-Gatwick starting June 2026.

The Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route will mark AirAsia X's return to the British capital more than a decade after suspending direct services to London Gatwick and London Stansted. The carrier previously operated Airbus A340 aircraft on long-haul routes before retiring the fleet as part of a strategic shift.

The expansion follows a Letter of Intent signed in November 2025 between parent company Capital A and Bahrain'...