AirAsia X starting services to Abu Dhabi

The service will operate five times weekly.

The carrier has also offered a tender on Route Exchange for bids for a Middle East hub connecting the Far East to Europe. Abu Dhabi will see itself as well placed to attract Air Asia's Middle East base, but the carrier insists the decision on the hub is still open.

AirAsia X already operates non-stop from Kuala Lumpur to London Stansted using A340s but the airline also operates Airbus A330s.