AirAsia X will launch a one-stop service between Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) via Bahrain International Airport (BAH) on 27 August 2026, per schedule data filed with aviation tracker AeroRoutes. The launch was originally planned for 26 June 2026 before being rescheduled.
The route operates four times weekly from launch, increasing to daily service from 2 November 2026, per AeroRoutes. All flights use an Airbus A330-300. AirAsia X's high-density A330-300s lack the range for a nonstop Kuala Lumpur to London service, according to Simple Flying, making the Bahrain technical stop operationally necessary.
The Bahrain leg is sold as a standalone sector, allowing passengers in Bahrain to book the Bahrain-London segment independently, offering Gulf-based travellers a lower-cost one-stop option on a corridor long dominated by full-service Gulf carriers, per Wego.
The route marks AirAsia X's return to UK operations for the first time since 2012, when the low-cost carrier withdrew from the London market. London Gatwick is the UK gateway. AirAsia X joins Air Arabia, which launched Sharjah-Gatwick service on 4 July 2026, and Air Zimbabwe, planning Harare-Gatwick service from late July, as new long-haul entrants at LGW this year, according to Simple Flying.
Sources
- AeroRoutes, AirAsia X Moves Bahrain/London Launch to late-Aug 2026
- Travel And Tour World, AirAsia X Reschedules Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick Route
- Wego Travel Blog, AirAsia X Resumes Kuala Lumpur-London Flights via Bahrain
- Simple Flying, Gatwick Welcomes 3rd New Long-Haul Airline In 2026
Sources & references (4)
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