AirAsia X has delayed the launch of its planned service linking Kuala Lumpur, Bahrain and London Gatwick, pushing the start to August or September from June, Aerotime reported on June 11.
The delay reflects the disruption that the conflict between Iran and the United States has brought to Gulf aviation plans, with Bahrain, the intended site of the carrier’s first hub outside Asia, having come under Iranian missile and drone strikes earlier in the year.
The long-haul, low-cost arm of Malaysia’s AirAsia confirmed on June 11 that it now expected the route to begin later in the year, having initially targeted June, according to the report. It said the start would still depend on operational and market conditions at the time.
AirAsia X said Bahrain remained important to its long-term growth and regional connectivity plans, and that it stayed focused on launching services to both Bahrain and Gatwick once the operating environment was better aligned with its objectives.
The service, formally announced in February, would establish Bahrain as the carrier’s first hub outside Asia and mark its return to London after more than a decade. The plan followed a letter of intent signed in November 2025 between AirAsia X parent Capital A and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.
The carrier chose Bahrain for its position connecting Asia with Europe and the Middle East. The island was struck during the conflict that began in February, with Iran regarding it as a target because the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based there, the report stated.