AirAsia Opens Route to Bahrain Amid Iran-US War
AirAsia X has stated that it will develop Bahrain as a strategic hub connecting the Asia and Europe regions, despite the current conflict in the Middle East or the Iran-United States war. This was conveyed by Non-Executive Chairman AirAsia Tan Sri Jamaludin.
“This route (to Bahrain) is scheduled to start operating on 26 June 2026. With the hope that the regional conditions will become increasingly conducive,” said Jamaludin during a media briefing via Zoom on Monday, 6 April 2026. He stated that this new route is part of AirAsia X (Group)’s strategic steps in facing rising fuel costs and increasing uncertainty in the global aviation industry.
Jamaludin said that amid an increasingly complex operational environment, the company remains confident in the resilience of its business model, the strength of its ASEAN network, and the long-term growth prospects of the region. “Travel demand remains solid, while strengthening the Group’s commitment to making Kuala Lumpur the main hub for seamless and affordable regional connectivity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jamaludin emphasised that AirAsia is proactively redirecting capacity to routes with stronger performance and yield, such as Almaty, Tashkent, and Istanbul, to capture disrupted demand. “At the same time, the development of a domestic hub in Senai, Johor Bahru, is also being explored as part of the medium-term strategy,” said Jamaludin.
Jamaludin Ibrahim, who was recently appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of AirAsia X, explained that this phase is a very exciting momentum, especially after the consolidation of seven short-haul and medium-haul airline entities into a more solid and integrated group.
He emphasised that amid global uncertainty, AirAsia X is entering this phase from a strong position. “The Group’s fundamentals remain solid, supported by an efficient and disciplined cost structure, a resilient ASEAN-based network, and Fly-Thru connectivity that enables quick responses to market dynamics,” said Jamaludin.
Looking ahead, he added, AirAsia will ensure operational agility and strong governance, while continuing to build on the established business foundation. “The current challenges are not only faced by airlines but the entire aviation ecosystem, so collaboration with partners is key to strengthening the industry’s competitiveness,” said Jamaludin.
AirAsia, according to Jamaludin, continues to open expansion opportunities, including additional aircraft orders and leasing options to support growth plans and network expansion to more destinations.
Advisor to AirAsia X Tony Fernandes added that Jamaludin will play an important role in the new chapter of AirAsia X as an integrated airline group. “His depth of experience and governance strengthens the role of the Board of Commissioners, while complementing the management team’s capabilities,” said Tony.
Tony is optimistic that AirAsia X will continue to improve performance and deliver added value and reliability for customers, partners, and investors.
At the same time, said Tony, the strength of the Capital A ecosystem continues to be the main supporting factor in driving cost efficiency while increasing revenue potential through synergies with AirAsia MOVE, cost optimisation by ADE, and utilisation of AirAsia NEXT’s technological capabilities to maximise sales.