AirAsia X Launches Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London (Gatwick)

[moa999]

Back to London (Gatwick this time) via AirAsia's new Bahrain hub. Expect narrowbodies in Bahrain in the future as well.

AirAsia X goes global with launch of Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London route, establishing Bahrain as its first strategic hub to Europe — AirAsia Newsroom

AirAsia X (AAX) Berhad celebrated a monumental milestone in the airline’s global expansion strategy with the announcement of two long-awaited international routes, connecting Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain and onwards to London Gatwick (KUL-BAH-LGW), at press conference in Bahrain today.

newsroom.airasia.com

 

[futaris]

https://www.airasia.com/flights/search/?origin=KUL&destination=LGW&departDate=26/06/2026&tripType=O&adult=1&child=0&infant=0&locale=en-gb&currency=USD&ule=true&cabinClass=economy&uce=true&ancillaryAbTest=false&isOC=true&isDC=false&promoCode=&type=paired&airlineProfile=all&upsellWidget=true&upsellPremiumFlatbedWidget=true&isAirasiaFlightOnly=true

160 USD for KUL-BAH-LGW with hand luggage only (one way).

35 USD more for 20kg luggage
630 USD more for premium flatbed

 

[MELso]

Oz launch fares are up.

MEL-KUL-BAH-LGW starts from $389
PER-KUL-BAH-LGW starts from $309

Best I could see was $953 return sans add-ons. ~26 hours over, 33 hours back.

Breathe in and pocket the savings? I probably wouldn't but each to their own.

 

[jase05]

Oz launch fares are up.

MEL-KUL-BAH-LGW starts from $389
PER-KUL-BAH-LGW starts from $309

Best I could see was $953 return sans add-ons. ~26 hours over, 33 hours back.

Breathe in and pocket the savings? I probably wouldn't but each to their own.

Yeah, doesn’t sound great.
I know Y isn’t fantastic but I just wonder how bad these seats are in comparison to others.
My youngest brother just came back from a month in Europe and paid under $950 in Y with CZ for SYD-CAN-AMS return and said it was not too bad. Pretty much rice or noodles every meal with fruit to finish but said it tasted good, seats were comfortable and staff were good. Not a huge collection on the IFE but found enough to survive. He goes skiing around the world and only ever flys Y and said that the CZ flights were better than SQ and CX and I’d dare say it would be streets ahead of Air Asia X

 

[MH_fan]

Those AirAsia X planes are bad enough in Y over 8 hours. It's a hard no from me. You can pay almost the same for a Chinese airline and that's full service!

 

[clifford]

Those AirAsia X planes are bad enough in Y over 8 hours. It's a hard no from me. You can pay almost the same for a Chinese airline and that's full service!

Yes, I can't see it being a raging success. And they'd be competing with Scott to some extent (to Europe).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

With Air China being around the same price… all inclusive… and potentially a much shorter flying time, I’d be exploring options.

The Air Asia flight might be ok originating in KUL, but the extra leg from Au on LCC is not appealing.

 

[jase05]

The Air Asia flight might be ok originating in KUL, but the extra leg from Au on LCC

8hr stopover in KUL on the way over and 10hrs on the way back plus the 2hr refueling stop in BAH both ways sounds unappealing in Y on a full service airline much less a LCC who is known for the horrible seats

 

[aikman]

Wow, seeing Chinese airlines being promoted on AFF is certainly a surprise.

I don't expect the AFF crowd to be the target market for this service. It should be a good option to/from Asia, especially for those nationalities without visa free access to China and Chinese airlines.

 

[jase05]

Wow, seeing Chinese airlines being promoted on AFF is certainly a surprise.

I don't expect the AFF crowd to be the target market for this service. It should be a good option to/from Asia, especially for those nationalities without visa free access to China and Chinese airlines.

Most Chinese airlines are fine and have solid J products so happy to fly with them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Wow, seeing Chinese airlines being promoted on AFF is certainly a surprise.

I don't expect the AFF crowd to be the target market for this service. It should be a good option to/from Asia, especially for those nationalities without visa free access to China and Chinese airlines.

Very few countries without access to at least 24 hour TWOV. Many countries are eligible for a lot more (72 or 144 hour).

I think the well-under-$1000 fares to europe are a bargain. Especially for carriers like Air China that offer a full bar in the economic cabin.

 

[elanshin]

Wow, seeing Chinese airlines being promoted on AFF is certainly a surprise.

I don't expect the AFF crowd to be the target market for this service. It should be a good option to/from Asia, especially for those nationalities without visa free access to China and Chinese airlines.

The Chinese airlines are basically at LCC price points but as a full service airline. So from a price conscious perspective they are usually an excellent deal to Europe or even Japan. Air Asia would need to be some ridiculously stupid price to even get a look in when up against the Chinese main airlines. I have never come out of an 7h flight with my backside hurting as much as I did doing MEL - KUL. Combination of rock hard seats and lack of space on 3-3-3 layout (less space in your seat to move around even a little bit.

I'd even take Scoot over them just because theres a little bit more room to work with.

 

[aussiejohn]

I flew KL to Stansted back in 2011 on their A330 when they used to fly that route. Seat 14C and in the Quiet Zone as I recall. Not something I could, or would even think of doing today. But it was more-or-less a day flight, left 2.45pm arrived Stansted 9.45pm, so sleep wasn't an imperative. I watched 8 hours of a tv series on my tablet. I seem to remember that were not too many people in the Quiet Zone, so I moved to a window seat and had an row to myself. I did several MEL-KUL flights most in cattle, but a couple in Premium. I do not like their flat beds as they are not flat but the old sloping style and I find them very uncomfortable for trying to sleep. As for this new incarnation, it will be a hard no from me also.

 

[moa999]

I don't expect the AFF crowd to be the target market for this

Plenty here look for value, and if an LCC offers it so be it.. not for everyone though.
Albeit a 3-leg flight to LHR with some average connections probably counts most out

Looking at my openflights I've done 5 SYD-KUL returns on D7 and a KUL-PER. Mostly 2014-2018, found others including TR and JQ better value since.

And D7 is definitely tight, both in pitch and at the shoulders. I think on two of those flights I got a paid upgrade to premium angled flat.. and on others the former plusgrade offerings of a full row, or spare seat.