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# BAHRAIN: Parliament Defers Vote on Low-Cost Airline Proposal
- URL: https://insideaviation.news/bahrain-parliament-defers-vote-on-low-cost-airline-proposal/
- Published: 2026-11-03T17:36:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T17:36:07.000Z
- Description: MANAMA, Bahrain: Bahrain's Council of Representatives has deferred a vote on a proposal for a Bahraini low-cost airline to a future session, with no new date set.
- Author: Inside Aviation News
- Tags: Bahrain, AirAsia, Gulf Air, low-cost carrier, parliament, Regulatory, Start-ups

MANAMA, Bahrain

- Bahrain's Council of Representatives on Tuesday, 3 November, deferred a desire-proposal by MP Dr Mohammed Jassim Al Olaiwi calling on the government to set up a low-cost airline in partnership with the private sector.
- After the session, Council Secretary-General Eng. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain said in a statement that all items listed under the desire-proposals section of the agenda, including the airline proposal, had been carried over to a future session.
- No new date was given for the vote. The airline item was not debated at the session.
- The session, chaired by Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, was the Council's fifth ordinary session of the fifth annual session of the sixth legislative term.
- MPs approved four law proposals and referred them to the government. They passed one draft law, on electronic communications and transactions, in full and referred it to the Shura Council; approved a second, on marine resources, in principle and sent it back to committee; and sent a third back to committee for two weeks.
- The proposal calls for a low-cost carrier to lower fares, open new direct routes to tourism markets, increase competition in the aviation sector and create jobs for Bahrainis.
- Its explanatory memorandum says the carrier would complement Gulf Air (GF) by focusing on price-sensitive, high-density markets and routes the national carrier does not serve, and that a private-sector partnership would reduce the burden on the state budget.
- A joint committee of the Council's Financial and Economic Affairs Committee and Public Utilities and Environment Committee, chaired by MP Ahmed Sabah Al Salloom, recommended approval, with all members present in favour.
- In its response to the Council, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications said the proposal falls within its priorities and that it had begun applying the low-cost model by contracting with AirAsia and working with Gulf Air on flights to and from Bahrain International Airport (BAH).
- On Sunday, 1 November, AirAsia appointed the board of AirAsia Bahrain and said its commitment to the kingdom was unchanged, as [Inside Aviation News reported](https://insideaviation.news/bahrain-airasia-reaffirms-bahrain-plans-as-parliament-to-vote-on-low-cost-airline-proposal/).
- The board is chaired by Dr Serra Kirdar, with Dato' Fam Lee Ee as vice chairman. The other members are Dr Faisal Khalid Kanoo, Nawaf Al Zayani, Akram Safa, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim. All are non-executive directors.
- Capital A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes said the regional geopolitical situation had required AirAsia to adjust its initial plans and that it is targeting the start of AirAsia flights to Bahrain by March 2027, as conditions allow.
- The appointment builds on a Letter of Intent (LoI) signed between Capital A and the ministry in November 2025\. Capital A plans maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Bahrain through Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), and its logistics arm Teleport has flown twice-weekly freighter services into Bahrain since February 2026.

Sources:

- [Al Bilad](https://www.albiladpress.com/news/2026/6595/bahrain/1029436.html?ref=insideaviation.news)
- [AirAsia Newsroom](https://newsroom.airasia.com/news/airasia-reaffirms-long-term-commitment-to-bahrain-appoints-airasia-bahrain-board?ref=insideaviation.news)
- [Al Ayam](https://www.alayam.com/alayam/local/1150260/News.html?ref=insideaviation.news)
- [Akhbar Al Khaleej](https://akhbar-alkhaleej.com/news/article/1440105?ref=insideaviation.news)
- [Gulf Daily News](https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1411335/Proposal-to-launch-budget-airline?ref=insideaviation.news)