Royal Brunei
Encyclopedia
Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd (Malay: Penerbangan DiRaja Brunei, Jawi: ﻓﻧﺭﺑﺎڠن ﺩﻴﺮﺍﺝ ﺑﺮﻮﻧﻲ), or RBA, is the flag carrier
airline
of the Sultan
ate of Brunei
, headquartered in the RBA Plaza in Bandar Seri Begawan
. It is wholly owned by the government of Brunei. Its hub is Brunei International Airport
in Berakas, just to the north of Bandar Seri Begawan
, the capital
of Brunei.
Formed in 1974 with an initial fleet of two aircraft, serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu
and Kuching
, Royal Brunei Airlines now operates a fleet of 10 aircraft to 19 destinations in Southeast Asia
, the Middle East
, Europe, Australia and NZ.
s. The airline's first flight was on 14 May 1975 from the newly built Brunei International Airport
to Singapore
. Flights to the then British
colony of Hong Kong
and the city of Kota Kinabalu
and Kuching
in East Malaysia
(Malaysian Borneo) started the same day.
Early route expansion included services to Manila
in 1976, and Bangkok
in 1977. Three years later, Royal Brunei acquired a Boeing 737-200QC – its third Boeing 737 – enabling it to reach Kuala Lumpur
in 1981 and Darwin
in 1983.
from the United Kingdom
on 1 January 1984, services commenced to Jakarta
on 3 January, thus linking all five ASEAN capital cities at the time – Bangkok
, Jakarta
, Kuala Lumpur
, Manila
and Singapore
– to Brunei.
Three Boeing 757-200
s were purchased in the mid-1980s to enable the airline to expand to Taipei
in 1986 and Dubai
in 1988. They were also used on existing high-capacity routes to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala
Lumpur; after the introduction of the 757, its smaller sibling was phased out. In 1990, Royal Brunei began its first flight to Europe
when services started to Frankfurt am Main via Bangkok and Dubai. Services to London Gatwick Airport
commenced in 1990 via Singapore and Dubai, and changed to London Heathrow Airport
in 1991, by which time services were inaugurated to Perth
and to Jeddah
via Dubai.
. The delivery of the first Boeing 767 broke a world record when it flew 17 hours and 22 minutes non-stop from Boeing
's factory in Seattle to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
, Nairobi
on its way to Brunei
. Seven more 767s were delivered, taking the fleet to eight 767s and two Boeing 757s (one of the 757s was sold to fund the purchase of the new 767s).
In March 1993, Abu Dhabi
was added to the route network, through which flights to Frankfurt and Jeddah
were re-routed instead of Dubai. Bali
was the second Indonesian city to be added to the network in May during the year. Flights to the third European destination, Zürich
, commenced in August 1993 via Kuala Lumpur and another new destination, Bahrain
. Before the end of the year, the airline were inaugurated services to Beijing
(October) and Cairo
(November), via Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain, respectively. RBA sold its last Boeing 737
to Aloha Airlines
.
The growth of the network continued in 1994. The delivery of two Fokker 50s were used to start services to Miri
and Labuan
in East Malaysia of the same year. Flights to Brisbane
and Osaka
were also commenced in June and December, respectively; (the Brisbane service was initially routed via Darwin but later upgraded to a non-stop flight
). The desire to link all the major oil and gas
cities on Borneo
saw the addition of Balikpapan
to the route network in December.
In 1994, services began to Kolkata
via Singapore and then on towards Dubai. Two Dornier Do 228
s were purchased in the same year and leased to the Malaysian regional carrier, Hornbill Skyways
, to connect Brunei by air to Mulu Airport
. Services to Cairo and Kolkata
(via Singapore) were suspended mid-1995 due to low passenger numbers.
The F-50s were replaced by the larger and more comfortable Fokker 100 in 1996, which fueled expansion to Bintulu
. The route to Zürich was suspended in September 1996 to enable Royal Brunei to commence daily services to London Heathrow. Some London flights were routed through Yangon
and Abu Dhabi, instead of via Singapore and Dubai; however, Yangon proved uneconomical and was discontinued the following year.
Later that year, Surabaya
was the fourth Indonesian destination to be added. Unprofitable routes to Beijing and Osaka were suspended in 1998 and the F-100s were also sold to Alpi Eagles Airlines
in 1998. Kuwait
was added to the network in 2000 and was served via Singapore, Kolkata and Dubai. It was suspended a year later. Services also began to Shanghai Pudong International Airport
in 2001. Royal Brunei started online booking facilities the same year.
s would be changed to 15 new narrow-body aircraft
and eight wide-body aircraft
; half of the new aircraft to be leased and the others to be purchased. The plan also included new services to Auckland
, Ho Chi Minh City
, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo, as well as raising frequencies on other flights.
The deliveries of the new Airbus A319 and A320 in and 2002 and 2003, respectively, marked the start of the re-equipping exercise. Two new V2500-powered A319s were delivered on 28 August and 3 September. A320s were added on 21 December 2003 and 3 January 2005. All of the Airbus were leased from CIT Aerospace of USA in a seven-year contract, and are deployed mainly on regional routes. With their introduction, the Boeing 757
s were phased out and sold to other parties.
On 31 October 2003, a RBA aircraft touched down at Auckland Airport, making it the first destination in New Zealand
, and the first new destination added to the network as part of the restructuring exercise. The year also saw the launching of Royal Skies, the airline's frequent-flyer program, in May.
At the end of 2003, Royal Brunei entered a controversial agreement with Royal Tongan Airlines
of Tonga
. Under the agreement, Royal Tongan wet-leased one of the two remaining Boeing 757s. In return, Royal Brunei was given the opportunity to open up U.S. markets via Tonga. However, before U.S. routes could be planned Royal Tongan went into bankruptcy with huge debts in mid 2004, after less than 6 months of operation. As Royal Tongan was unable to pay the lease fees, and the 757s was repossessed and stored at Auckland International Airport
.
Starting in March 2004, four of Royal Brunei’s Boeing 767s were modified by the introduction of SkyDreamer seats in Business Class to replace the old First Class and Business Class Skyluxe seats. Business Class was renamed as Sky Executive Class and in Economy class each seat was installed with an 8.4 inch TV. Sky Executive Class was subsequently renamed Business Class following poor response from the public.
The unprofitable Taipei
route was suspended in late 2004. Kuching and Kolkata were dropped on 31 October 2004 due to the rising oil prices, but at the same time, Sydney
was added to the route network. Commencing 17 December, flights to Jeddah were routed through Sharjah
instead of Abu Dhabi. During the year, the airline launched Blue Sky Fares, a low-cost Internet booking facility, offering cheaper economy class fares on selected destinations, to compete with low-cost carrier
s in the region, such as AirAsia
. In August 2005 Peter Foster resigned as CEO to take up a similar post at Air Astana
.
to its network list in May 2006, a destination served thrice-weekly. In July 2007, RBA appointed a new CEO, Ray Sayer, who would leave the role after just 20 months in the post.
In early September 2007, RBA suspended flights to Frankfurt am Main as part of its latest restructuring exercise. Kuching
was reintroduced to the network on 1 December 2007, after a break of three years. Royal Brunei Airlines then suspended services to Darwin
on 26 January 2008, after serving the route for 24 years. Sharjah
was also dropped from the network early 2008 as Jeddah
flights are served non-stop from Bandar Seri Begawan
. Shanghai
was "suspended" in April 2008, and Sydney
and Bali
were dropped from the summer schedule of 2008.
On 2 June 2008, Royal Brunei Airlines increased services to Auckland
from Bandar Seri Begawan
by offering a new three-weekly direct service. This direct service is in addition to increase in frequency of the existing route via Brisbane
from three to four times a week. The following year, Robert Yang was appointed as Chief Executive Officer effective from 1 July after the departure of Ray Sayer.
From 28 March 2010 the service to Shanghai
resumed with a frequency of four times per week. Auckland
was delinked from Brisbane
making Auckland 5 times per week and Brisbane 6 times per week. From 17 June 2010, Royal Brunei Airlines introduced ex-Singapore Airlines
Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to replace the Boeing 767 fleet being returned to their lessors; the inaugural Boeing 777 service was the Bandar Seri Begawan–London/Heathrow service via Dubai, on 17 June. The last of the airline's long-serving Boeing 767s were withdrawn from service on 27 September. Plans were also announced during the year for a four times a week Brunei–Melbourne
service with the Boeing 777-200ER, starting from 29 March 2011.
On 12 February 2011, Brudirect.com had reported that Robert Yang had announced his resignation as the CEO of Royal Brunei, with effect from 1 March 2011. Until further notice, the management will report to the Deputy Chairman, Dermot Mannion.
, Brisbane
, Perth
and Ho Chi Minh City
will be suspended effective after the last scheduled flights of October 2011. Flights to Kuching
were suspended after the last scheduled flight of July 2011. The airline may lease an additional Airbus A320
in mid-2012, together with 5 Boeing 787
to strengthen and revitalize their regional network and international routes respectively.
, which operates the flight kitchen at Brunei International Airport
and Royal Brunei Engineering which provides maintenance and overhaul of aircraft.
, Sydney
and Ho Chi Minh City
) stated in the 2003 restructuring plan. Sydney was added to the network in 2004, but was "suspended" (at the same time as Bali) in 2008.. Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City suspended in 2011.
agreed to allow more air services between the countries on 23 November 2007, enhancing the two countries' co-operation in the aviation sector. The agreement comes into action with immediate effect. This came off the back of the latest tourism figures of 3,459 European holiday visitor arrivals from January–August 2007, according to Brunei Tourism. The agreement enhances air services and co-operation between the two countries, allowing for the tourism industries and commerce of the two countries to prosper. The U.K. is considered an important gateway for European tourists coming to Brunei. Royal Brunei Airlines operates daily flights between Brunei
and London
via Dubai
. From then on, Royal Brunei Airlines is permitted to serve daily flights on routes between Bandar Seri Begawan
and London
without any restrictions regarding aircraft type and seat capacity with the end of the previous arrangement. RBA is also allowed to launch four services per week on routes to Manchester
if decided at a later date.
Former fleet(s):
RBA was to lease five brand-new Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2009, but the Boeing delivery schedule has slipped to 2012. When these aircraft are eventually delivered, Royal Brunei will consider the possibility of beginning new long-haul
services to other European destinations. Plans to operate nonstop flights to London Heathrow have been abandoned.
. It was opened in January 2004 and occupies the entire mezzanine floor at the departure hall (airside) of the airport
. The lounge which has a seating capacity of approximately 120, with massage chairs, workstations with personal computers and free Internet access and wireless connections for personal laptops. Other facilities include shower rooms and a prayer room with ablution areas for Muslim
passengers. The lounge is exclusively reserved for Royal Brunei’s first and business class passengers, and Royal Skies Gold and Silver members. The lounge may also be used by Baiduri Bank American Express
Gold Card holders, and other qualifying members of other airlines with an agreement with Royal Brunei Airlines to use the lounge such as Singapore Airlines.
. As with alcohol, smoking is also forbidden during flights.
system based on the Thales Group
i-4000 series These are offered through the 10.4-inch personal TV on the Sky Dreamer seats (these seat deploys into an angled full length flat-bed which, along with a plush duvet and a larger pillow, to offer peaceful sleep) in the Business class on B777s and 8.4-inch personal TV in Economy class on all B777s It offers an extensive choice of audio and video programs and features 17 videos on demand selections, five broadcast video channels, 10 games, more than 60 audio-on-demand (AVOD
) technology, and twelve channels of continuous audio entertainment in a variety of languages. Every seat in Business class has its own AC laptop power supply.
Royal Brunei Airlines was 'Runner Up' to Hawaiian Airlines
for Best Entertainment for the Main Screen category as determined by an international media panel, sponsored by the World Airline Entertainment Association (VVAEA), that evaluated in-flight audio, video, magazine and interactive media from leading passenger airlines worldwide. RBA was nominated in the following three categories: Best In-Flight Audio Entertainment, Best Entertainment for the Main Screen and Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment (small fleet, 24 or fewer aircraft).
Muhibah is a Malay word that means unity or harmony. The word aptly captures the essence of the magazine that provides modern travellers with reading material that is relevant, newsworthy and up-to-date.
Muhibah is written and presented in a breezy style, and is packed with reading material that promotes world destinations while enveloping the readers with a sense of luxury with sections and articles that highlights the finer things in life. With a definite lifestyle skew, the magazine is engaging, exciting and encourages the readers to take flight to destinations and experiences through gorgeous images and stylish presentations.
Muhibah is also Brunei Darussalam's only internationally circulated magazine that serves as a window to its rich tapestry of cultural heritage and lifestyle of this unique country. Muhibah, is available onboard all RBA flights and is also the only local high-end publication that is available at premium airline lounges, at participating premium hotels in Brunei, at all Brunei diplomatic missions around the world, local government offices, selected local and international travel agents, tourism bodies, RBA Recreation Clubs plus RBA Sales Offices worldwide and to selected businesses and subscribers. Currently, Muhibah is also found in privilege banking lounges in Brunei and Malaysia.
Materials published in Muhibah are sourced from both local and international contributors and is designed in eye-catching and stylish layouts with exciting images that appeal to a large cross-section of passengers, be it for leisure of business.
Muhibah is written in English with 'Best of Brunei' in Malay. The editorial content covers travel articles, destinations, must-do experiences, food, history and culture. Undoubtedly, each issue also aims to highlight the wonders of Brunei Darussalam as a culturally unique country.
Muhibah is segmented into categories for better focus and targeted reading: Escapade, Compass, By Word of Mouth, Taste Buds, Take 5, Motoring, In Style, In Person, Best of Brunei, Money Matters and Travel Diary. The rest of the contents carries RBA corporate news, History of RBA, History of Brunei Darussalam and other relevant information for airline travellers.
Membership is divided into three tiers:
Royal Skies membership does not expire as long as there is at least one activity recorded in the member’s account within a period of three years.
The Blue card does not carry any expiry date, however, Silver and Gold cards will have an expiry date that shows the end of the benefits period. Silver and Gold members must re-qualify for the Elite tier to continue receiving Elite Status benefits. With the expiration of Elite status benefits, the member will use their Blue card to start earning tier-qualifying miles again. However, the total miles that the member has accumulated so far will not expire.
Miles accrued by Royal Skies members can be redeemed for free flights or seat upgrades. A free upgrade award starts from 5,000 Royal Skies miles, while redemption for a free flight starts from 15,000 miles.
Bibliography
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
of the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
ate of Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, headquartered in the RBA Plaza in Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
. It is wholly owned by the government of Brunei. Its hub is Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport...
in Berakas, just to the north of Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
, the capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Brunei.
Formed in 1974 with an initial fleet of two aircraft, serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
and Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Royal Brunei Airlines now operates a fleet of 10 aircraft to 19 destinations in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Europe, Australia and NZ.
Pre-independence
Royal Brunei Airlines was established on 18 November 1974 with two new Boeing 737-200Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
s. The airline's first flight was on 14 May 1975 from the newly built Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport...
to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Flights to the then British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colony of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and the city of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
and Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
in East Malaysia
East Malaysia
East Malaysia, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia located on the island of Borneo. It consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. It lies to the east from Peninsular Malaysia , which is located on the Malay Peninsula. The two are...
(Malaysian Borneo) started the same day.
Early route expansion included services to Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
in 1976, and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1977. Three years later, Royal Brunei acquired a Boeing 737-200QC – its third Boeing 737 – enabling it to reach Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
in 1981 and Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in 1983.
From national independence: 1984–1991
After the independence of BruneiBrunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 1 January 1984, services commenced to Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
on 3 January, thus linking all five ASEAN capital cities at the time – Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
– to Brunei.
Three Boeing 757-200
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
s were purchased in the mid-1980s to enable the airline to expand to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
in 1986 and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
in 1988. They were also used on existing high-capacity routes to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala
Lumpur; after the introduction of the 757, its smaller sibling was phased out. In 1990, Royal Brunei began its first flight to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
when services started to Frankfurt am Main via Bangkok and Dubai. Services to London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
commenced in 1990 via Singapore and Dubai, and changed to London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
in 1991, by which time services were inaugurated to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
via Dubai.
Rapid expansion: 1992–1996
With the airline's rapid expansion the 737s were sold, replaced by the Boeing 767Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
. The delivery of the first Boeing 767 broke a world record when it flew 17 hours and 22 minutes non-stop from Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
's factory in Seattle to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
-Charter airlines:-Cargo airlines:-Other facilities:The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has its head office in the KAA Complex on the airport property. African Express Airways has its head office on the airport property...
, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
on its way to Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. Seven more 767s were delivered, taking the fleet to eight 767s and two Boeing 757s (one of the 757s was sold to fund the purchase of the new 767s).
In March 1993, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
was added to the route network, through which flights to Frankfurt and Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
were re-routed instead of Dubai. Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
was the second Indonesian city to be added to the network in May during the year. Flights to the third European destination, Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, commenced in August 1993 via Kuala Lumpur and another new destination, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. Before the end of the year, the airline were inaugurated services to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(October) and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
(November), via Kuala Lumpur and Bahrain, respectively. RBA sold its last Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
to Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
.
The growth of the network continued in 1994. The delivery of two Fokker 50s were used to start services to Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
and Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
in East Malaysia of the same year. Flights to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
were also commenced in June and December, respectively; (the Brisbane service was initially routed via Darwin but later upgraded to a non-stop flight
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
). The desire to link all the major oil and gas
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
cities on Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
saw the addition of Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
to the route network in December.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
via Singapore and then on towards Dubai. Two Dornier Do 228
Dornier Do 228
The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH from 1981 until 1998. In 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics bought a production licence and manufactures the 228 for the Asian market sphere. Approximately 270 Do 228 were built at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany and...
s were purchased in the same year and leased to the Malaysian regional carrier, Hornbill Skyways
Hornbill Skyways
Hornbill Skyways is a regional charter helicopter service operating in towns and rural areas in Sarawak, Malaysia. The Sarawak state government owns most of Hornbill Skyways....
, to connect Brunei by air to Mulu Airport
Mulu Airport
Mulu Airport is an airport in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia and gateway to the Gunung Mulu National Park. There are resort accommodations at the National Park, but the nearest villages are Long Terawan, downstream 21.7 km to the west, and Long Atip 26.1 km to the south...
. Services to Cairo and Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(via Singapore) were suspended mid-1995 due to low passenger numbers.
The F-50s were replaced by the larger and more comfortable Fokker 100 in 1996, which fueled expansion to Bintulu
Bintulu
Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of Bintulu District in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is about 650 kilometers from Kuching and about 215 kilometers from either Sibu or Miri....
. The route to Zürich was suspended in September 1996 to enable Royal Brunei to commence daily services to London Heathrow. Some London flights were routed through Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
and Abu Dhabi, instead of via Singapore and Dubai; however, Yangon proved uneconomical and was discontinued the following year.
Consolidation: 1997–2002
In August 1997, a Dornier 228 owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated and maintained by Malaysian regional carrier Hornbill Airways, carrying 19 passengers to Miri, crashed into high ground near Miri airport. All 19 passengers and two crew died. The Dornier 228s were sold in 1997 and short haul services connecting Brunei to Miri, Labuan, Mulu and Bintulu were terminated.Later that year, Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
was the fourth Indonesian destination to be added. Unprofitable routes to Beijing and Osaka were suspended in 1998 and the F-100s were also sold to Alpi Eagles Airlines
Alpi Eagles
Alpi Eagles SpA was an airline headquartered in Sant'Angelo di Piove di Sacco, Italy. The privately owned regional airline operated scheduled passenger services linking 15 domestic destinations, as well as international services to Albania, Czech Republic, France, Romania, Russia, Spain and Ukraine...
in 1998. Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
was added to the network in 2000 and was served via Singapore, Kolkata and Dubai. It was suspended a year later. Services also began to Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is the primary international airport serving Shanghai, China, and a major aviation hub in Asia. The other major airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao, mainly serves domestic flights...
in 2001. Royal Brunei started online booking facilities the same year.
Restructuring: 2003–2005
In September 2002 Peter Foster was appointed as CEO. He began major restructuring in 2003, after years of unprofitable operation. The plan was for Royal Brunei’s fleet to grow from 9 to 24 aircraft in a ten-year period, from 2003 to 2013. The fleet of six Boeing 767Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
s would be changed to 15 new narrow-body aircraft
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
and eight wide-body aircraft
Wide-body aircraft
A wide-body aircraft is a large airliner with two passenger aisles, also known as a widebody aircraft or twin-aisle aircraft. The typical fuselage diameter is . In the typical wide-body economy cabin, passengers are seated seven to ten abreast, allowing a total capacity of 200 to 850 passengers...
; half of the new aircraft to be leased and the others to be purchased. The plan also included new services to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo, as well as raising frequencies on other flights.
The deliveries of the new Airbus A319 and A320 in and 2002 and 2003, respectively, marked the start of the re-equipping exercise. Two new V2500-powered A319s were delivered on 28 August and 3 September. A320s were added on 21 December 2003 and 3 January 2005. All of the Airbus were leased from CIT Aerospace of USA in a seven-year contract, and are deployed mainly on regional routes. With their introduction, the Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
s were phased out and sold to other parties.
On 31 October 2003, a RBA aircraft touched down at Auckland Airport, making it the first destination in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the first new destination added to the network as part of the restructuring exercise. The year also saw the launching of Royal Skies, the airline's frequent-flyer program, in May.
At the end of 2003, Royal Brunei entered a controversial agreement with Royal Tongan Airlines
Royal Tongan Airlines
Royal Tongan Airlines was the national airline of Tonga until liquidation in 2004. It was a government agency and operated interisland services and international routes.-Formative years:...
of Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. Under the agreement, Royal Tongan wet-leased one of the two remaining Boeing 757s. In return, Royal Brunei was given the opportunity to open up U.S. markets via Tonga. However, before U.S. routes could be planned Royal Tongan went into bankruptcy with huge debts in mid 2004, after less than 6 months of operation. As Royal Tongan was unable to pay the lease fees, and the 757s was repossessed and stored at Auckland International Airport
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand with over 13 million passengers a year, expected to more than double by 2025...
.
Starting in March 2004, four of Royal Brunei’s Boeing 767s were modified by the introduction of SkyDreamer seats in Business Class to replace the old First Class and Business Class Skyluxe seats. Business Class was renamed as Sky Executive Class and in Economy class each seat was installed with an 8.4 inch TV. Sky Executive Class was subsequently renamed Business Class following poor response from the public.
The unprofitable Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
route was suspended in late 2004. Kuching and Kolkata were dropped on 31 October 2004 due to the rising oil prices, but at the same time, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
was added to the route network. Commencing 17 December, flights to Jeddah were routed through Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
instead of Abu Dhabi. During the year, the airline launched Blue Sky Fares, a low-cost Internet booking facility, offering cheaper economy class fares on selected destinations, to compete with low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
s in the region, such as AirAsia
AirAsia
AirAsia Berhad is a Malaysian-based low-cost airline. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills airline and a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. AirAsia group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations spanning 25 countries. Its main hub is the Low-Cost...
. In August 2005 Peter Foster resigned as CEO to take up a similar post at Air Astana
Air Astana
Air Astana is the flag carrier and the national airline of Kazakhstan with its head office in Almaty. It is the national carrier of Kazakhstan and operates scheduled domestic and international services. Its main bases are Astana International Airport and Almaty International Airport...
.
Growth: 2006–2010
Royal Brunei added Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
to its network list in May 2006, a destination served thrice-weekly. In July 2007, RBA appointed a new CEO, Ray Sayer, who would leave the role after just 20 months in the post.
In early September 2007, RBA suspended flights to Frankfurt am Main as part of its latest restructuring exercise. Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
was reintroduced to the network on 1 December 2007, after a break of three years. Royal Brunei Airlines then suspended services to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
on 26 January 2008, after serving the route for 24 years. Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
was also dropped from the network early 2008 as Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
flights are served non-stop from Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
. Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
was "suspended" in April 2008, and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
were dropped from the summer schedule of 2008.
On 2 June 2008, Royal Brunei Airlines increased services to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
from Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
by offering a new three-weekly direct service. This direct service is in addition to increase in frequency of the existing route via Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
from three to four times a week. The following year, Robert Yang was appointed as Chief Executive Officer effective from 1 July after the departure of Ray Sayer.
From 28 March 2010 the service to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
resumed with a frequency of four times per week. Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
was delinked from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
making Auckland 5 times per week and Brisbane 6 times per week. From 17 June 2010, Royal Brunei Airlines introduced ex-Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to replace the Boeing 767 fleet being returned to their lessors; the inaugural Boeing 777 service was the Bandar Seri Begawan–London/Heathrow service via Dubai, on 17 June. The last of the airline's long-serving Boeing 767s were withdrawn from service on 27 September. Plans were also announced during the year for a four times a week Brunei–Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
service with the Boeing 777-200ER, starting from 29 March 2011.
On 12 February 2011, Brudirect.com had reported that Robert Yang had announced his resignation as the CEO of Royal Brunei, with effect from 1 March 2011. Until further notice, the management will report to the Deputy Chairman, Dermot Mannion.
Stabilisation Plan: 2011-Onwards
On 21 June 2011, Royal Brunei Airlines announced that the company is moving forward with a comprehensive and sustainable plan to improve its operations, financial performance and customer service experience. As part of the plan, services to AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
will be suspended effective after the last scheduled flights of October 2011. Flights to Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
were suspended after the last scheduled flight of July 2011. The airline may lease an additional Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
in mid-2012, together with 5 Boeing 787
Boeing 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use...
to strengthen and revitalize their regional network and international routes respectively.
Subsidiaries
Royal Brunei subsidiaries are companies that are involved in the non-core businesses supporting its aviation business activities such as Royal Brunei CateringRoyal Brunei Catering
Royal Brunei Catering is a company whose main business is in the catering and restaurant business. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Brunei Airlines.-Dairy Farm :...
, which operates the flight kitchen at Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport...
and Royal Brunei Engineering which provides maintenance and overhaul of aircraft.
Destinations
Royal Brunei has started services to three of the five destinations (AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
) stated in the 2003 restructuring plan. Sydney was added to the network in 2004, but was "suspended" (at the same time as Bali) in 2008.. Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City suspended in 2011.
Codeshare agreements
The airline has codeshare agreements with the following airlines at October 2011:- Garuda IndonesiaGaruda IndonesiaPT Garuda Indonesia Tbk , publicly known as Garuda Indonesia, is the flag carrier of Indonesia. It is named after the mystical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology. It is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia...
(SkyteamSkyTeamSkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands...
-future) - Malaysia AirlinesMalaysia AirlinesMalaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
(OneworldOneworldOneworld , branded as oneworld, is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, oneworld Management Company, based in New York City, New York, USA. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific...
-future) - Thai Airways InternationalThai Airways InternationalThai Airways International Public Company Limited is the national flag carrier and largest airline of Thailand. Formed in 1988, the airline's headquarters are located in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, and operates out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai is a founding member of the Star Alliance. Thai is a...
(Star AllianceStar AllianceStar Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany . The alliance was founded in 1997 by five of the world's leading airlines: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways International and United Airlines...
)
New UK–Brunei air services agreement
Brunei Darussalam and the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
agreed to allow more air services between the countries on 23 November 2007, enhancing the two countries' co-operation in the aviation sector. The agreement comes into action with immediate effect. This came off the back of the latest tourism figures of 3,459 European holiday visitor arrivals from January–August 2007, according to Brunei Tourism. The agreement enhances air services and co-operation between the two countries, allowing for the tourism industries and commerce of the two countries to prosper. The U.K. is considered an important gateway for European tourists coming to Brunei. Royal Brunei Airlines operates daily flights between Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. From then on, Royal Brunei Airlines is permitted to serve daily flights on routes between Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
without any restrictions regarding aircraft type and seat capacity with the end of the previous arrangement. RBA is also allowed to launch four services per week on routes to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
if decided at a later date.
Fleet
The Royal Brunei Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2011):| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A319 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
2 | — | 8 | 114 | 122 | |
| Airbus A320-200 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
2 | 1 | 12 | 132 | 144 | Leased from CIT Aerospace & 1 more to be added 2012 |
| Boeing 777-200ER | 6 | — | 30 | 255 | 285 | Leased from Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets... |
| Boeing 787-8 | — | 5 | TBA | To be leased from LCAL | ||
| Total | 10 | 6 | ||||
Former fleet(s):
- Boeing 737-200Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
- Boeing 757-200Boeing 757The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
- Boeing 767-300ERBoeing 767The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
- Fokker 50
- Fokker 100
RBA was to lease five brand-new Boeing 787-8 aircraft in 2009, but the Boeing delivery schedule has slipped to 2012. When these aircraft are eventually delivered, Royal Brunei will consider the possibility of beginning new long-haul
Flight length
In aviation, the flight length is defined as the time airborne during a flight.- Domestic :A short-haul domestic flight is commonly categorized into being no longer than 1.5 hours in length, meaning that all domestic flights within a country such as the United Kingdom are short-haul...
services to other European destinations. Plans to operate nonstop flights to London Heathrow have been abandoned.
Ground services
Passengers may check-in between one to 48 hours prior to departure. This may be done at the check-in counters available at the airport. Business Class or Royal Skies Silver/Gold members may check-in at dedicated check-in counters. Alternatively, passengers may check-in online. Self-service check-in will be available in the near future.Sky Lounge
SkyLounge is Royal Brunei Airlines' lounge at the Brunei International AirportBrunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport...
. It was opened in January 2004 and occupies the entire mezzanine floor at the departure hall (airside) of the airport
Brunei International Airport
Brunei International Airport is the primary airport in the nation of Brunei. The Royal Brunei Air Force is also based at the Rimba Air Base which is located in the Brunei International Airport...
. The lounge which has a seating capacity of approximately 120, with massage chairs, workstations with personal computers and free Internet access and wireless connections for personal laptops. Other facilities include shower rooms and a prayer room with ablution areas for Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
passengers. The lounge is exclusively reserved for Royal Brunei’s first and business class passengers, and Royal Skies Gold and Silver members. The lounge may also be used by Baiduri Bank American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
Gold Card holders, and other qualifying members of other airlines with an agreement with Royal Brunei Airlines to use the lounge such as Singapore Airlines.
In-flight service and awards
As the sale of alcohol is forbidden in Brunei, Royal Brunei does not serve alcohol onboard its flights. Passengers are permitted to take along their own. All meals served are halalHalal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
. As with alcohol, smoking is also forbidden during flights.
Cabins
Sky Show is Royal Brunei Airlines in-flight entertainmentIn-flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. In 1936, the airship Hindenburg offered passengers a piano, lounge, dining room, smoking room, and bar during the 2½ day flight between Europe and America...
system based on the Thales Group
Thales Group
The Thales Group is a French electronics company delivering information systems and services for the aerospace, defense, transportation and security markets...
i-4000 series These are offered through the 10.4-inch personal TV on the Sky Dreamer seats (these seat deploys into an angled full length flat-bed which, along with a plush duvet and a larger pillow, to offer peaceful sleep) in the Business class on B777s and 8.4-inch personal TV in Economy class on all B777s It offers an extensive choice of audio and video programs and features 17 videos on demand selections, five broadcast video channels, 10 games, more than 60 audio-on-demand (AVOD
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
) technology, and twelve channels of continuous audio entertainment in a variety of languages. Every seat in Business class has its own AC laptop power supply.
Royal Brunei Airlines was 'Runner Up' to Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
for Best Entertainment for the Main Screen category as determined by an international media panel, sponsored by the World Airline Entertainment Association (VVAEA), that evaluated in-flight audio, video, magazine and interactive media from leading passenger airlines worldwide. RBA was nominated in the following three categories: Best In-Flight Audio Entertainment, Best Entertainment for the Main Screen and Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment (small fleet, 24 or fewer aircraft).
Muhibah
The in-flight magazine of Royal Brunei Airlines, titled Muhibah, is published six times a year. It is issued free of charge to all passengers on Royal Brunei flights and can also be subscribed to. The magazine was first published in 1981 by Abas Williams Associates (Abas Williams Associates is now Syabas Publishers). The magazine was voted First Runner Up in the 2002 Avion Awards. In May 2007, Digital Impressions was awarded the contract to publish Muhibah and since had been revamped to include fresh contents and creatives throughout.Muhibah is a Malay word that means unity or harmony. The word aptly captures the essence of the magazine that provides modern travellers with reading material that is relevant, newsworthy and up-to-date.
Muhibah is written and presented in a breezy style, and is packed with reading material that promotes world destinations while enveloping the readers with a sense of luxury with sections and articles that highlights the finer things in life. With a definite lifestyle skew, the magazine is engaging, exciting and encourages the readers to take flight to destinations and experiences through gorgeous images and stylish presentations.
Muhibah is also Brunei Darussalam's only internationally circulated magazine that serves as a window to its rich tapestry of cultural heritage and lifestyle of this unique country. Muhibah, is available onboard all RBA flights and is also the only local high-end publication that is available at premium airline lounges, at participating premium hotels in Brunei, at all Brunei diplomatic missions around the world, local government offices, selected local and international travel agents, tourism bodies, RBA Recreation Clubs plus RBA Sales Offices worldwide and to selected businesses and subscribers. Currently, Muhibah is also found in privilege banking lounges in Brunei and Malaysia.
Materials published in Muhibah are sourced from both local and international contributors and is designed in eye-catching and stylish layouts with exciting images that appeal to a large cross-section of passengers, be it for leisure of business.
Muhibah is written in English with 'Best of Brunei' in Malay. The editorial content covers travel articles, destinations, must-do experiences, food, history and culture. Undoubtedly, each issue also aims to highlight the wonders of Brunei Darussalam as a culturally unique country.
Muhibah is segmented into categories for better focus and targeted reading: Escapade, Compass, By Word of Mouth, Taste Buds, Take 5, Motoring, In Style, In Person, Best of Brunei, Money Matters and Travel Diary. The rest of the contents carries RBA corporate news, History of RBA, History of Brunei Darussalam and other relevant information for airline travellers.
Royal Skies
Royal Skies is the loyalty programme of Royal Brunei Airlines. Launched in May 2003, members will earn actual miles on every eligible Royal Brunei Airlines’ flight or by utilising the products and/or services of Royal Skies Partners.Membership is divided into three tiers:
- Blue (Base membership)
- Silver (Silver membership – Elite)
- Gold (Gold membership – Elite)
Royal Skies membership does not expire as long as there is at least one activity recorded in the member’s account within a period of three years.
The Blue card does not carry any expiry date, however, Silver and Gold cards will have an expiry date that shows the end of the benefits period. Silver and Gold members must re-qualify for the Elite tier to continue receiving Elite Status benefits. With the expiration of Elite status benefits, the member will use their Blue card to start earning tier-qualifying miles again. However, the total miles that the member has accumulated so far will not expire.
Miles accrued by Royal Skies members can be redeemed for free flights or seat upgrades. A free upgrade award starts from 5,000 Royal Skies miles, while redemption for a free flight starts from 15,000 miles.
See also
- List of companies of Brunei
- Transport in BruneiTransport in Brunei-Railways:total:13 km narrow gauge13 km, track gauge -Roadways:total:3,650 kmpaved:2,819 kmunpaved:831 km -Ports and harbours:Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong...
Footnotes
ReferencesBibliography