Royal Brunei Airlines has launched direct flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Chennai in order to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. A top official announced this on Wednesday.
Royal Brunei Airlines Chief executive officer Captain Sabirin Bin Hj Abdul Hamid announced that an Airbus A320NEO carrying passengers from Brunei was welcomed with the traditional water cannon upon its arrival in Chennai, on Tuesday, at 10.50pm local time. He noted that the launch of this air connection also marks the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between both nations.
“India is a significant market for aviation. The aviation industry is growing quickly, as is the economy. Hamid told reporters that there is a strong connection between Chennai and Brunei.
Brunei has around 4,000 Indians who will visit the country between January 2024 and September 2024. India is one of the top 10 countries in terms of tourist arrivals. He added that Brunei employs approximately 14,000 Indians in various companies.
Royal Brunei Airlines operated flights between Singapore and Kolkata for many years, but the service was discontinued.
“Launching this route is more than a flight connection. It is a bridge that connects two nations. We are delighted to be able to create new opportunities in tourism, business, and cultural exchanges between Brunei, India, and other countries. This route connects Bruneians to the vibrant Chennai city and offers Indians more options to travel to Brunei”, Hamid said.
In response to a question, he stated that the airline planned to introduce similar flights between Bandar Seri Begawan, Malaysia and other Indian cities including Delhi.
“Our next destination in India has not yet been determined. We may launch flights connecting Delhi. We are analysing the markets.”
The Chennai-Bandar Seri Begawan will operate on Thursdays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. An introductory fare for round-trip tickets is Rs 31,000. This new route is a significant addition to the Royal Brunei Airlines global network. It allows passengers from Chennai to travel to destinations such Hong Kong and Manila via Brunei.
The latest catalogue prices indicate that the deal is worth almost USD 10 billion. However, such deals are often subject to discounts. BOC Aviation expects to deliver the aircraft between 2027-2029. BOC Aviation CEO Robert Martin said that this was “the biggest single order” BOC has ever placed.
Hamid said that the launch of this service marks an historic step towards strengthening cultural, economic and people-to person ties between Brunei, India and Brunei.
Royal Brunei Airlines in India is represented by its network partner STIC Travel Group led by Founder-Chairman Subhash Goyal. STIC Travel Group handles ticket bookings as well as visa processing for passengers travelling to Brunei. Royal Brunei Airlines has a fleet of seven Airbus A320NEOs and five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.
