During the Gulf Gateway Forum 2025, the Ministry of Transport and Communications signed with Capital A Berhad, the group that owns AirAsia, a letter of intent to establish a regional center for aviation and logistics services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in a move that strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a strategic gateway linking the Association of Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the region, and supports its vision to become a global aviation hub.
On this occasion, Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transport and Communications, confirmed that signing the letter of intent with Capital A reflects the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening its position as an international center for aviation and logistics services, indicating that this partnership will contribute to expanding the horizons of economic cooperation and opening new investment opportunities, and represents an important step towards consolidating Bahrain’s position as a leading regional center in the aviation and logistics sector, in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
It includes the gradual launch of flights from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia to Bahrain over the next five years, with subsequent connections to Europe and the United States. Capital A is also considering establishing an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Bahrain to operate narrow-body aircraft serving Eastern Europe, Africa, Central Asia and key markets in the Middle East.
He pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain will strengthen this trend by granting air transport rights from the Fifth and Seventh Freedoms to AirAsia and Teleport, which supports the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance regional and global air connectivity, and attract more investments in the aviation and logistics services sector.
By 2030, AirAsia is expected to operate more than 25 flights daily through Bahrain, transporting more than 17 million passengers annually and creating more than 100,000 job opportunities within the aviation system and related services, including 1,000 jobs during the first year of operation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, achieving an economic contribution estimated at approximately 3 billion Bahraini dinars.
Tony Fernandez, CEO of Capital A, pointed out that the partnership with Bahrain represents an important turning point in the company’s global expansion, and that the Kingdom will be a strategic platform for launching in the Middle East, stressing that linking Bahrain to the AirAsia network in ASEAN is in line with the company’s mission to facilitate travel and make it more accessible and an enjoyable experience for all, explaining that establishing an air operating certificate and linking it to the company’s major centers will open new paths for the movement of people and trade and provide real opportunities for growth and innovation in both regions.
Capital A will work to deepen cooperation in the fields of air connectivity, logistics, engineering and developing national competencies. Teleport, the company’s logistics arm, will establish its regional center in Bahrain, and Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) will establish a maintenance facility to support the growth of the aircraft fleet in the region, in parallel with a program to develop and employ Bahraini talents in the fields of aviation, engineering, air services and ground operations.
