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Royal Brunei Airlines (RB), the national flag carrier of Brunei Darussalam, is renowned for its warm Bruneian hospitality, modern fleet, and commitment to connecting Brunei to the world. Headquartered at the RB Campus in Bandar Seri Begawan, RB operates its primary hub at Brunei International Airport (BWN). As a boutique airline, it emphasizes personalized service, safety, and sustainability while serving over 30 destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Europe. Below is a comprehensive overview of RB’s history, operations, fleet, services, challenges, and future outlook.
Royal Brunei Airlines was established on November 18, 1974, with assistance from British Airways, and began scheduled services on May 14, 1975, linking Bandar Seri Begawan to Singapore using Boeing 737-200 aircraft. Initially focused on regional connectivity, the airline’s early network included Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and Singapore. In the 1980s, RB expanded with the acquisition of three Boeing 757-200s, enabling routes to Taipei (1986) and Dubai (1988), and high-capacity services to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. A historic milestone was achieved in June 1990 with a record-setting 18-hour nonstop flight from Seattle to Mombasa/Nairobi, covering 14,856.19 km, led by local pilot Captain Khalidkhan bin Haji Asmakhan, earning a 1992 Guinness World Record entry.
The 1990s saw further growth with routes to Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Bali, Beijing, Cairo, and Brisbane, and the introduction of Fokker 50s and Fokker 100s for regional services. However, a tragic accident in 1997 involving a Dornier 228 (operated by Hornbill Airways) near Miri resulted in 10 fatalities, leading RB to sell its remaining Dorniers and terminate short-haul routes to Miri, Labuan, Mulu, and Bintulu. In 2010, RB resumed services to Shanghai and introduced Boeing 777-200ERs, replacing its Boeing 767 fleet. The airline became the first in Southeast Asia to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2013, launching services from Bandar Seri Begawan to Singapore and London Heathrow via Dubai.
The 2010s marked significant modernization. In 2010, RB resumed services to Shanghai and introduced Boeing 777-200ERs, replacing 767s on routes like Bandar Seri Begawan to London via Dubai. In 2013, RB became the first Southeast Asian airline to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, launching services to Singapore and London Heathrow via Dubai. By 2018–2020, RB earned TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Regional Airlines (Asia) award for three consecutive years, a Five-Star rating from APEX in 2019, and a Seven-Star COVID-19 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com in 2021. In 2015, RB won the Travel Media Innovative Campaign and Content Award in the UK, and in 2014, it received a REBRAND 100® Global Award for its brand transformation.
As of 2025, Royal Brunei Airlines operates a fleet of 14 aircraft: five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners and nine Airbus A320 family aircraft (two A320ceos and seven A320neos). The 787s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, serve long-haul routes, while A320s handle regional flights. RB’s fleet is among the youngest globally, with an average age of under 10 years, reflecting its commitment to efficiency and passenger comfort.
RB serves 32 destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Europe, including Bandar Seri Begawan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, Melbourne, London Heathrow, Chennai, and Balikpapan. The airline operates nonstop flights from Melbourne to London via Brunei and Dubai, a unique 100% Dreamliner service. Codeshare agreements with Garuda Indonesia, Malaysia Airlines, Maswings, Cathay Pacific, and Thai Airways enhance connectivity. Recent route expansions include increased frequencies to Kota Kinabalu and new services to Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, and Nanning.
RB’s operations emphasize safety and sustainability, with a 7-star safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and IOSA certification. The airline’s Sky Lounge at Brunei International Airport offers premium passengers a relaxing pre-flight experience with Wi-Fi, dining, and comfortable seating.