KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia has appointed the board of directors for its Bahrain operations, reaffirming its commitment to establishing the Kingdom as its strategic hub linking Asia with the Middle East, Europe and Australia.
The board will be chaired by Dr Serra Kirdar, with Datuk Fam Lee Ee as vice-chairman. Other members include Dr Faisal Khalid Kanoo, Nawaf Al Zayani, Akram Safa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, all serving as non-executive directors.
Capital A chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said AirAsia remained committed to Bahrain despite geopolitical uncertainties, with flights targeted to begin by March 2027, subject to regional conditions.
“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.”
The group also plans to develop aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities through Asia Digital Engineering, while its logistics arm Teleport is expanding cargo capacity in Bahrain.
Fernandes said the appointment builds on the group's partnership with Bahrain, which awarded it a Golden Licence to support its expansion plans.
