AirAsia announces initial plan to establish a Gulf hub in Bahrain - Salam
As-salamu alaykum. Budget carrier AirAsia has signed a letter of intent with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication to explore making Bahrain a regional hub as the airline looks to better link Asia with Europe and the US via the Gulf. The agreement lays out a framework to strengthen connections between Bahrain and ASEAN markets and to develop airline, cargo, logistics and maintenance activities from the kingdom.
Under the LoI, AirAsia will look into launching routes from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia to Bahrain over the next five years, with onward connections to western destinations. The group will also consider applying for an Air Operator Certificate in Bahrain to operate narrow-body jets to important cities across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe.
AirAsia projects that by 2030 it could operate more than 25 daily flights through Bahrain and carry over 20 million passengers in the next five years. The operation is expected to contribute significantly to Bahrain’s economy and support many jobs across aviation and related services.
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, said the partnership marks an important step as the group moves into a new phase of growth and that Bahrain will be an important base for expansion in the Middle East.
This effort follows the airline’s recovery and restructuring after the severe disruptions of the Covid-19 years. Capital A’s maintenance arm, Asia Digital Engineering, plans a notable presence in Bahrain with hangars and workshops able to service narrow- and wide-body aircraft, while the group’s logistics unit intends to use Bahrain as a gateway to expand freight and e-commerce links between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Central Asia.
Sheikh Abdulla Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said the move supports Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 by creating opportunities for leisure and business travel and jobs for the local workforce.
May Allah bless efforts that bring halal economic benefit and create lawful employment. Wa alaykum as-salam.
https://www.thenationalnews.co