AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur International) is shifting its long-haul strategy towards Türkiye as the new intercontinental hub, after geopolitical tensions disrupted its earlier Gulf plans, Capital A chief executive Tony Fernandes said at a press conference.

"We're about to do a partnership with a very large Turkish airline, which will give us a huge European network," Fernandes said, quoted by Skift. He added that network plans and operations initially intended for Bahrain International are now being trialled in Istanbul. The Gulf airport, which AirAsi X planned to turn into a fifth-freedom connecting hub for its European operations, remains closed to all commercial traffic due to the risk of Iranian strikes.

AirAsia X earlier planned to launch services to London Gatwick via Bahrain from June 26, 2026, and to base up to 100 aircraft at the Gulf airport.

The airline continues to sell tickets on the Kuala Lumpur International-Bahrain-London Gatwick fifth-freedom route.

In a LinkedIn post dated March 16, 2026, Fernandes said amid the conflict, demand had strengthened for travel to Europe via Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Fernandes said the airline would seek to offset higher fuel costs through revenue and cost control, while maintaining low fares. It expects to return most of its aircraft from storage by end-April 2026 to improve operational reliability.