The airline originally began operations to London in 2009, landing at Stansted before moving to Gatwick in 2011. At the time, it became the first low-cost operator on the so-called Kangaroo Route, connecting Europe and Southeast Asia. However, a year later, the airline withdrew from loss-making UK routes, focusing instead on services to Sydney and Beijing.
The revamped Gatwick service will include a stopover in Bahrain to keep fares low. Flights will operate aboard an Airbus A330-300, which accommodates up to 377 passengers, arranged in a 2-4-2 economy configuration.
Services are scheduled to begin four times weekly from 27 August, before increasing to a daily operation from 2 November, providing flexibility for both leisure and business travellers. Departing Kuala Lumpur at 10pm, flights will touch down in Bahrain for a one hour and 45-minute layover before continuing to London Gatwick, arriving at 6.25am the following morning. Outbound Gatwick flights leave at 9.25am, pausing for two hours in Bahrain before arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 9.25am the following day. The full journey totals around 16-and-a-half hours, split almost evenly between both segments.
Return fares for November start at £551, which includes a small personal item and hand luggage, with additional options available to book only the Bahrain leg. For passengers seeking non-stop alternatives, British Airways flies daily from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, while Malaysia Airlines operates twice-daily services, though both tend to carry higher prices.
Pierre-Hugues Schmit, chief executive of London Gatwick Airport, said: "The arrival of AirAsia X and flights to Kuala Lumpur is fantastic news for London Gatwick passengers. The new daily service will provide excellent opportunities to visit the city or onward connectivity across the region – ideal for holidaymakers, businesses and the many British‐Malaysian families who will now have even better options for visiting friends and relatives."
The new route reflects a growing trend of budget long-haul options from the UK, combining competitive pricing with strategic stopovers to maintain affordability while expanding connectivity between Europe and Asia.
Passengers can book flights via AirAsia X’s official website or through major flight comparison platforms.
