AirAsia X confirms plans for Bahrain hub amid Middle East conflict uncertainty

Budget carrier AirAsia X’s CEO Bo Lingam announced on April 6 that it still intends to open its planned hub in Bahrain in June. However, he did not provide a definitive answer on whether the plans would proceed if the ongoing Middle East conflict continues.

Speaking at a press conference, Bo said flights to Bahrain would operate if the conflict ends before June, but he declined to confirm plans in the event of a prolonged conflict, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

“Anything’s possible,” he said when asked whether the airline might use alternative routes to Europe, such as via Türkiye.

Flights were scheduled to begin on June 26.

AirAsia X revealed in February its plan to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via the Bahrain hub, marking its first hub outside Asia.

The announcement predated late February US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which disrupted air travel across the region and led many airlines to cancel flights to avoid the affected airspace.

AirAsia X, which completed the acquisition of a short-haul airline business from its former parent and Capital A subsidiary in January, has been hit hard by soaring jet fuel costs due to the conflict.

Bo noted that some Asian countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, have introduced fuel-refuelling restrictions.

Co-founder of AirAsia X and CEO of Capital A, Tony Fernandes, said the airline would need to raise fares and reduce flights in regions where fuel costs are no longer sustainable.

In some markets, jet fuel prices have surged to $300 per barrel.

Fernandes added that demand for air travel remains strong, and he hopes the airline will recover and emerge stronger once the crisis subsides.

Fuel surcharges have been increased by about 20%, with ticket prices rising 31–40%, the company said.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov