Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia X said has postponed the launch ‌of its planned service via Bahrain until at least August due to the conflict in the Middle East, Reuters report said.

AirAsia initially ​planned to commence the route in June, ​linking Kuala Lumpur to Bahrain and onward to ⁠London's Gatwick airport. It said in a statement ​it now expects the service to start in August ​or September, subject to market conditions, said Reuters.

The budget ​carrier said it remains committed to opening a hub ​in Bahrain but needed to take a "measured approach".

"Bahrain continues to ‌play ⁠an important role in our long-term growth plans and regional connectivity strategy, and we remain focused on launching services to both Bahrain and ​London Gatwick ​when the ⁠operating environment is better aligned with our operational and commercial objectives," AirAsia ​General Manager Benyamin Ismail said.

AirAsia X in February unveiled plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via the Bahrain hub, its first outside Asia, with services set to begin on June 26.

That announcement however came before US and ⁠Israeli air strikes on Iran later that month, which disrupted aviation across the Middle East, with many airlines cancelling routes to avoid airspace in the region.

AirAsia X CEO Bo Lingam told a Press conference in April that the Bahrain service would definitely go ahead ‌if the war ⁠ends before June, but ⁠declined to say if it would proceed in the event of a protracted conflict.