Royal Brunei Airlines: A Comfortable And Luxurious Experience

Royal Brunei Airlines is the flag carrier of the Sultanate of Brunei, with its headquarters in the RB Campus in Bandar Seri Begawan and its hub at Brunei International Airport. The airline was formed in 1974, with an initial fleet of two Boeing 737-200 aircraft serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. Today, Royal Brunei Airlines operates to over 20 destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe, and Oceania. The airline has a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A320 aircraft, offering Business Class and Economy Class cabins. Royal Brunei Airlines is known for its excellent service, comfortable seats, and modern in-flight entertainment systems. The airline has also received accolades for its Muslim-friendly policies and halal in-flight meals.

Royal Brunei Airlines' history and ownership

Royal Brunei Airlines, the national flag carrier airline of Brunei Darussalam, was established on 18 November 1974 as an independent corporation wholly owned by the government of Brunei. Its hub is Brunei International Airport in Berakas, just north of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

The airline's maiden voyage was on 14 May 1975, from the then newly built Brunei International Airport to Singapore. Flights to the then British colony of Hong Kong, and the cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in East Malaysia, started the same day. Early route expansion included services to Manila in 1976 and Bangkok in 1977.

In the late 1980s, Royal Brunei Airlines acquired three B757-200 aircraft, enabling it to expand its network to include Taipei in 1986 and Dubai in 1988. In 1990, the airline began its first flights to Europe, with services to Frankfurt via Bangkok and Dubai, and London Gatwick Airport via Singapore and Dubai. The route to London was changed to Heathrow Airport in 1991.

In the 1990s, Royal Brunei Airlines continued to expand and reconfigure its network, adding new destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Zurich, Beijing, and Cairo. In 2003, the airline began a major restructuring process, with plans to grow its fleet from 9 to 24 aircraft in ten years. As part of this restructuring, Royal Brunei Airlines added Auckland, New Zealand, to its network in 2003.

In 2010, the airline introduced six ex-Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200ER aircraft to replace the leased Boeing 767s. In 2013, Royal Brunei Airlines became the first Southeast Asian carrier to take delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The airline continues to expand and enhance its services, with a focus on providing a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for its guests.

Destinations and routes

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) is the flag carrier of the Sultanate of Brunei and flies to about 15 destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Europe. However, another source states that the airline operates in over 20 destinations across the world, while yet another source states that it operates in 32 destinations. The airline operates from its hub at Brunei International Airport (BWN) and its headquarters are in the RB Campus in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.

The airline was formed in 1974, with an initial fleet of two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. Its fleet and route network have expanded progressively since then.

• Bandar Seri Begawan
• Beijing
• Changsha
• Haikou
• Hangzhou
• Nanning
• Shanghai
• Hong Kong
• Jakarta
• Surabaya
• Sapporo
• Tokyo
• Kota Kinabalu
• Kuala Lumpur
• Kuching
• Manila
• Singapore
• Seoul
• Taipei
• Bangkok
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Melbourne
• London
• Dubai
• Jeddah
• Abu Dhabi
• Brisbane
• Perth
• Auckland
• Yangon
• Sharjah
• Kolkata
• Bahrain
• Cairo
• Kuala Terengganu
• Miri
• Labuan
• Bintulu
• Mulu
• Surabaya
• Chennai
• Bali
• Darwin
• Zurich
• Frankfurt
• Kuwait
• Shanghai Pudong
• Sydney
• Osaka
• Brisbane
• Muscat
• Guangzhou

Royal Brunei Airlines has added several new destinations to its network over the years, with the most recent addition being Chennai, India, in 2024. The airline has also resumed flights to some destinations, such as Ho Chi Minh City in 2014, and suspended flights to other destinations, such as Frankfurt in 2007.

The airline offers both Business Class and Economy Class cabins on its flights, with premium passengers having access to the Royal Brunei Sky Lounge at Brunei International Airport.

Business Class experience

Royal Brunei Airlines offers a luxurious Business Class experience, with spacious cabins, comfortable seats, and impeccable service. The airline's 787 Dreamliner Business Class cabin features contour seats that fully recline to flat beds, providing 11% more surface area than the in-flight beds of most aircraft. Each seat is equipped with a plush duvet, a large pillow, and a mattress topper for added comfort. The Business Class cabin lavatories are also equipped with bidets.

The airline's Airbus Business Class cabin offers plush seating with a pitch of 42-43 inches and a seat width of 20.9-22.7 inches. There are a total of 12 recliner seats, each with a 10-degree recline and an in-seat power supply.

Upon boarding, Business Class passengers are greeted with a juice, a hot towel, and a menu. The food in Business Class is excellent, with a choice of dishes that rival those served in restaurants. Meals are served on china crockery with proper cutlery, cute little salt and pepper shakers, and glassware. Breakfast typically includes a fresh fruit appetiser, a selection of rolls and pastries with condiments, and coffee.

In terms of entertainment, each seat in Business Class is equipped with a 15.4-inch touchscreen LCD monitor featuring the Panasonic eX2 in-flight entertainment system. The system offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, music, and games. Noise-cancelling headphones are also provided for a superior viewing experience.

Business Class passengers also enjoy priority check-in, boarding, disembarkation, and baggage claim, as well as fast-track security and passport control clearance at select airports. The airline's Sky Lounge at Brunei airport offers additional comforts, including comfortable seating, day beds, work stations, free WiFi, a small cinema, a games arcade, and a children's play area.

Economy Class experience

Royal Brunei Airlines Economy Class Experience

The economy class experience on Royal Brunei Airlines has been described as "pleasant" and "very comfortable". The seats are said to be spacious, with a semi-articulated recline of around six inches, adjustable headrests, and ample legroom. The seats also have a unique feature where the seat pad moves forward as the back goes down, providing a more comfortable resting position. Each seat is equipped with a personal touchscreen monitor, measuring nine inches on the 787 Dreamliner and 10.1 inches on the NEO aircraft. These monitors provide access to the in-flight entertainment system, offering a wide range of movies, music, and TV series. Additionally, each seat has a USB port and a shared or individual power supply, making it convenient for passengers who wish to work or stay connected during the flight.

The food in economy class has been described as "acceptable" and "not as good as business class", but still better than what one might typically expect from airline meals. The crew and service have been praised as "impeccable", with friendly and attentive staff who provide excellent service throughout the flight.

One notable aspect of Royal Brunei Airlines is that they operate alcohol-free flights to all destinations. However, passengers are allowed to bring and consume their own alcohol on board. The airline also offers a generous baggage allowance of up to 30kg for economy class passengers.

Overall, the economy class experience on Royal Brunei Airlines seems to exceed expectations, providing a good balance of comfort, entertainment, and service at affordable prices.

Awards and accolades

Royal Brunei Airlines has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, recognising its excellence in the aviation industry. Here is a detailed overview of some of these achievements:

In 2023, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) was awarded a prestigious Five Star rating for the Major Airline category by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). This award highlights RBA's commitment to providing a superior travel experience for its passengers.

In the same year, RBA was also recognised by the World Travel Awards, receiving the accolade of World's Leading Cabin Crew for the fourth consecutive year. This award is a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and hospitality of RBA's inflight crew.

On 30 May 2024, RBA received further recognition for its services, being named Muslim-Friendly Airline of The Year by Crescent Rating for Halal in Travel Awards. This award acknowledges RBA's commitment to accommodating the needs of Muslim travellers and ensuring halal practices are adhered to.

Additionally, RBA has consistently been recognised by TripAdvisor, earning the Travellers' Choice award in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These awards reflect the positive reviews and high satisfaction rates expressed by travellers who have flown with RBA.

The airline has also received praise for its business class offering, with travellers commending the spacious cabins, comfortable seats, and excellent inflight amenities. The business class experience on RBA's B787 Dreamliner has been particularly well-received, with travellers appreciating the extra legroom, attentive service, and high-quality dining options.

Overall, Royal Brunei Airlines has established a strong reputation for delivering exceptional travel experiences, and its awards and accolades reflect the high standards the airline upholds across its operations.

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