Bahrain emerges as potential Middle East cargo gateway

Capital A Berhad, the parent company of AirAsia, is looking at Bahrain as a potential hub for aviation, cargo, and logistics operations in the Middle East. The group has signed a Letter of Intent with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing a base that could link Southeast Asia with Europe, Africa, and the United States. Plans under consideration include developing cargo services, maintenance operations, and regional connectivity to support growing trade flows. AirAsia would potentially launch flights from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia to Bahrain within five years, creating new freight and passenger routes across the region. The company projects that by 2030 it could operate more than 25 daily flights through Bahrain, moving significant volumes of cargo alongside an estimated 20 million passengers annually. Officials note that the expansion could bolster Bahrain’s logistics infrastructure and contribute around BHD 3 billion to the economy. The initiative aligns with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which emphasises diversifying trade and logistics capabilities. By positioning the kingdom as a regional connector between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, the plan could strengthen Bahrain’s role in global supply chains and regional air cargo networks.