AirAsia X is reinstating its connection between London and Kuala Lumpur, a route previously suspended over a decade ago. The low-cost long-haul carrier has scheduled flights from Gatwick to Kuala Lumpur International Airport beginning June 26, 2026. This re-establishment of service marks a significant development for the airline, which last operated flights to London and Paris Orly in 2012. At that time, the company cited rising jet fuel costs, increased taxes, and a downturn in demand as reasons for discontinuing the European routes.
The new itinerary includes a layover in Bahrain, a country Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, AirAsia’s parent company, has described as a “strategic hub.” This stopover will range from 90 minutes to two hours, extending the total travel time to approximately 16 and a half hours. Fernandes’s ambition to restart the London route dates back to at least 2014, indicating a long-held strategic objective now coming to fruition. He emphasized that Bahrain’s role as an aviation hub would facilitate more effective connections between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, while also providing a scalable framework for future expansion. The airline currently serves 150 destinations, including various cities across Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
Promotional fares for the revived route were advertised starting from €85 one-way for bookings made by February 22, applicable for travel between June 26 and November 30. However, a search for these dates revealed the lowest available one-way tickets from London to Kuala Lumpur at €185. This pricing strategy aims to attract early bookings and generate initial interest in the relaunched service. The airline’s re-entry into the European market follows a recent expansion in mid-November with a new direct route between Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Kuala Lumpur, a flight that takes around 10 and a half hours.
Fernandes outlined the airline’s broader strategy, stating that deepening partnerships with airports, tourism authorities, and industry stakeholders is crucial for unlocking new demand corridors. While AirAsia X has not yet indicated which other European destinations it might consider next, the establishment of Bahrain as a central hub suggests a phased approach to re-entering the wider European market. This move could signal a renewed focus on long-haul budget travel from Southeast Asia to the West, leveraging a stopover model to manage operational costs and expand reach.
The decision to relaunch the London route reflects a calculated risk and a potential shift in market conditions since the initial cancellations. With fuel prices fluctuating and the competitive landscape continually evolving, the airline is betting on the economic viability of its stopover model and the enduring demand for affordable travel between Europe and Asia. The success of this relaunched service could pave the way for further expansion into other European cities, solidifying AirAsia X’s presence in a key global travel market.
