AirAsia X Plans New Europe Routes Next Year

From Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid

ISTANBUL (TÜRKIYE), Nov 17 (Bernama) -- AirAsia X (AAX) is exploring plans for several additional European destinations, targeted for launch next year, said its chief executive officer, Benyamin Ismail.

Benyamin said AAX is working with a partner airline and expects to announce the collaboration soon.

He said AAX’s focus is not limited to Southeast Asia–Turkiye routes, but also includes connections from Central Asia and the Gulf into Turkiye.

“We operate two routes in Central Asia — Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Connectivity is key. We are also planning a hub in Central Asia and the Gulf.

“After Turkiye, we will fly to Bahrain and may set up a hub there as well to connect into Turkiye,” he told local media at AAX’s press conference marking its maiden flight to Istanbul today.

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The maiden flight to Istanbul on Nov 14, 2025, reaffirmed AAX’s commitment to expanding beyond Asia, with the airline offering four weekly flights to the city and more than 150,000 seats annually at competitive fares.

However, he said AAX will prioritise connections via Central Asia first while also considering direct links between European cities and Asia through Istanbul.

“Europe, starting with Istanbul, is our first step. Opportunities may include one-stop flights through the Middle East, Kazakhstan, or Turkiye onwards,” he added.

He also highlighted Turkiye as a key market, noting its ranking as the fourth most visited country globally.

“It’s a big market, and we are evaluating whether to build a hub here or partner with another airline to operate cost-efficiently. Opportunities for routes from Turkiye to London, Edinburgh, or Paris are being explored,” he said.

On AAX’s fleet expansion plans, he said the airline aims to acquire smaller aircraft and expects to receive its four A321 Long Range (A321LR) aircraft in the second half of 2026. Once delivered from Airbus, he said, the aircraft will require a few months before entering operations.

“We expect them to be in service by the third quarter of next year,” he said, noting that the LRs will enable the airline to serve secondary cities and support its growth into Europe.

-- BERNAMA