Capital A Berhad (“Capital A”) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing Bahrain as its Middle East hub, marking a strategic move to strengthen connectivity between Asean and one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation regions. The partnership will cover airline operations, cargo and logistics, maintenance capabilities, and talent development, reflecting Capital A’s ambition to scale its global footprint.
Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, described the initiative as a “game-changer,” highlighting plans to operate over 25 daily flights between Bahrain and Asean megahubs by 2030, carrying more than 20 million passengers over five years. The expansion is expected to contribute around USD 8 billion to Bahrain’s economy and generate over 100,000 jobs across the aviation and service sectors. Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) will establish a state-of-the-art MRO facility in Bahrain, while Capital A’s logistics arm, Teleport, aims to strengthen international freight connectivity.
In Guwahati, the move is expected to open new travel and cargo routes benefiting the Northeast’s trade and tourism sectors. Local travel agencies, e-commerce logistics players, and aviation-related service providers anticipate improved connectivity and more competitive flight options, potentially boosting regional economic activity and enhancing Guwahati’s position as a key hub in India’s Northeast. H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa emphasized that the partnership aligns with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, reinforcing the kingdom as a tourism, aviation, and logistics hub linking Asia, Europe, Africa, and the US.