AirAsia reaffirms long-term commitment to Bahrain, appoints AirAsia Bahrain Board
Expansion plans for Bahrain remain intact
Capital A to develop MRO capabilities through ADE, as logistics arm Teleport continues to support trade flows between the Gulf and Asia
MANAMA, Bahrain, 1 November 2026 – AirAsia today reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Bahrain with the appointment of the AirAsia Bahrain Board of Directors, marking another milestone in establishing Bahrain as the Group’s strategic hub linking Asia with the Middle East, Europe and Australia.
The Board will be chaired by Dr. Serra Kirdar, with Dato’ Fam Lee Ee as Vice Chairman. They are joined by Dr. Faisal Khalid Kanoo, Nawaf Al Zayani, Akram Safa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim. All are non-executive directors.
The appointment builds on the Letter of Intent signed between Capital A and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications in November 2025, and AirAsia’s announcement in February 2026 positioning Bahrain as its Middle East hub.
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor to AirAsia Group, said: “Bahrain is strategically important to us as the gateway connecting Asean with the Middle East, Europe and beyond. While the geopolitical situation in the region has required us to adjust our initial plans, our commitment to Bahrain has not changed. Today’s appointment of the AirAsia Bahrain Board, with such a distinguished group of leaders, solidifies that commitment. We are here, and we are here for the long term.
Beyond the airline, we are committed to supporting Bahrain’s broader aviation ecosystem through Capital A’s diverse businesses. Through Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), we intend to develop MRO capabilities in the Kingdom that will serve not only AirAsia but other carriers in the region, creating high-value engineering jobs, building local technical expertise and strengthening Bahrain’s position as an aviation hub. Teleport, our logistics arm, has maintained twice-weekly freighter services into Bahrain since February 2026, continuing to facilitate trade flows between Asia and the Gulf, and is now scaling up capacity with larger freighter aircraft. We continue to monitor developments in the region closely and are targeting the commencement of AirAsia flights to Bahrain by March 2027, as conditions allow.
We are deeply grateful to the Government of Bahrain, which has been an exceptional partner throughout this journey. They share our long-term vision and have shown tremendous support, and we are honoured to have been awarded the Golden License, a clear expression of that confidence. Their partnership will remain pivotal as we continue to expand in the Kingdom, in tandem with Bahrain’s own ambitions.”
Dr. Serra Kirdar, Chairperson of AirAsia Bahrain, said: “I am honoured to be appointed Chairperson of AirAsia Bahrain at such an important moment. AirAsia has transformed air travel across Asia by making it accessible to millions, and I believe it can do the same for Bahrain and the wider region. This venture holds tremendous opportunities, from strengthening tourism and trade links between the Gulf and Asia to creating jobs and developing talent for Bahrainis in a dynamic global industry. Together with my fellow board members, I look forward to working closely with the Government of Bahrain and our partners to build an airline that the Kingdom can be proud of.”
*AirAsia Group, formerly known as AirAsia X Berhad