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Royal Brunei to Expand

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http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=99950&nav=130

Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) is reportedly set to expand, with prospective plans to revive flights to and from Sydney and add Melbourne to its network.

 

According to MICEBTN, the expansion will also involve a fleet update and comes as new chief executive Robert Yang takes the reins.

 

The carrier’s ageing B767 fleet will be replaced with new B777s by mid-2010 and 787 Dreamliners by late 2013 and 737-800s from 2011.

 

Next year, possible new routes will include flights to Ujung Padang (Indonesia) and Penang (Malaysia) and a return of services to Sydney and Shanghai.

 

Routes to Melbourne, Bahrain, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Narita, Chennai, and Beijing are anticipated to be added from 2011.

 

The carrier is also expected to add non-stop flights to London in the second half of 2012 and to Los Angeles in 2013 with the delivery of new aircraft.

 

I would love to see 737-800 in RBA colours. I think it's a good move if RBA get this. I love the lines of the 737-800 with winglets.

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Wow,RBA to accuire B737-800s? :clapping: Glad to hear the news.Perhaps it's time for them to replace the 763s with the 777.

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NO! WAIT! I HAVE NOT BEEN ON THE 767!

 

Interesting to see that RBA has decided to go ALL BOEING...I'm sure the 737-800 would look smashing with the yellow lines of RBA....

 

Not really Cikgu Kenneth..They do operate Airbus A319-112 and A320-232 (including the A340-212 for Royal Flight) too.

For the B737-800,it's a comeback for RBA,since they already retired their B732 long time ago.

 

Here's the photo of the B732 painted in RBA livery (current livery):

Photo of V8-UEC in current RBA livery

Edited by Tamizi Hj Tamby

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Just hope it happens- But I don't think anytime soon. What I heard - RBA spends 33Million on each aircraft overhauling the 767 in 2008. Not sure though.

 

I didn't know the 737 was ever painted in the current livery. I wonder if RBA ever wanted to go retro. :D Paint the old scheme.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Royal-Brunei-Airlines/Boeing-737-2M6-Adv/0651425/&sid=1680d9f078df8d30dab1a9ee0cbdae23

 

Z

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Didn't they have 777's previously ? I recall they had or were gonna have...

 

If not delivered: what was the reason ?

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This sounds like a fairy tale, which lacks real substance. The article suggests BI will fly practically all over the world, without really quoting the source of the info. Why would it fly to LAX, when it couldnt even maintain FRA? BJS? It couldnt even sustain PVG or TPE. I think the article is somebody's wet dreams.

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Yes- They are going to get the 777- Even the 777 was painted in RBA colors. but the deal didn't happen.I'm not sure why though.

 

Musaraf,

 

I get that article link from airliners.net. I also doubt about RBA is going to fly to LA.

 

BTW I read from RBA Facebook page - The staff did mention about RBA is going to get the 777 in 2011.

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RBA's new CEO, from what I heard is Malaysian (Ipoh Mali ooo) :) with background of freighter business. Therefore, PEN is a must destination that they would like to add.

 

For the past 5 years, they have changed at least 4 CEOs (Kwai-Lo, Bruneian itself and this time is Malaysian). Peter Foster, RBA ex-CEo (in 2004 if i am not mistaken) had revealed RBA plan that time to operate all-Airbus aircraft. They even advertised in their website on the recruitment of Airbus 330/340 pilot. However, from what I understand, CEO has quite a hard time to execute what they have planned. Maybe our Bruneian friends in this can shed some lights..

 

p/s: my 1st post since joining. :)

 

Sham

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Yes- They are going to get the 777- Even the 777 was painted in RBA colors. but the deal didn't happen.I'm not sure why though.

...it was a con job literally ,long story cut short ...they were conned by one of their own people ...former management pilot

Edited by Wira Azmi

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...it was a con job literally ,long story cut short ...they were conned by one of their own people ...former management pilot

 

More B738s in KKIA in the future.... :rolleyes:

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On one hand, with the Sultan’s wealth, BI can be become a formidable competitor to SQ and MH. On the other hand, there is less risk for HM to invest in SQ. Unless HM decided to emulate EK or EY, BI expansion is limited.

 

:drinks:

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...it was a con job literally ,long story cut short ...they were conned by one of their own people ...former management pilot

 

 

Con job? oO?

 

RBA's new CEO, from what I heard is Malaysian (Ipoh Mali ooo) with background of freighter business. Therefore, PEN is a must destination that they would like to add.

 

For the past 5 years, they have changed at least 4 CEOs (Kwai-Lo, Bruneian itself and this time is Malaysian). Peter Foster, RBA ex-CEo (in 2004 if i am not mistaken) had revealed RBA plan that time to operate all-Airbus aircraft. They even advertised in their website on the recruitment of Airbus 330/340 pilot. However, from what I understand, CEO has quite a hard time to execute what they have planned. Maybe our Bruneian friends in this can shed some lights..

 

p/s: my 1st post since joining.

 

Sham

 

Is it Robert Yang?

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Didn't BI use to be the emirates of the world in the 80's without expansion because I can't remember who but someone posted that onf this forum before.

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Didn't BI use to be the emirates of the world in the 80's without expansion because I can't remember who but someone posted that onf this forum before.

 

Somewhat, yes. Before EK came into the scene, BI already had gold plated, leather F seats and gold plated toilet fixtures in the mid to late 80s, starting with a three-class 757s - at that time, the most luxurious commercial 757 in service. Later, from KUL (SZB today), it had direct flights to BAH, CAI and ZRH, and it was not unusual then to have 2 763s on the ground in KUL (SZB) at the same time.

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And they used to flew to old BTU airport too,using F100 jets.Previously,before the F100 jets enters service,they also operated 2 F50s and flew to MYY and LBU.

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With the acquisition of the Dreamliners,BI will become the third ASEAN carrier to operate B787 after SQ and VN.

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Having been following BI's development over the past few years, I would say BI is the second worst managed state-owned airlines in SEAsia. When Peter Foster, the kwai lo CEO, came on board on Sept, 2003, BI had a breath of fresh air. His strategic plan can be viewed at http://www.bruneiair.com/news/item.asp?id=43&PagePosition=24. The introduction of the Airbus fleet, retrofitted 767s, Royal Skies, the Sky Lounge, new web site and Internet booking engine are the many major improvements under the leadership of Peter Foster.

 

Everything looked very promising and would give SQ, MH alike a run for money. However, after less than two years in office, Peter Foster abruptly resigned, moving over to Air Astana, which now expands rapidly. Then begins the downward spiral of the airline, destinations such as FRA, SUB, SYD, PVG, TPE and other were all suspended. BI's Skytrax rank dropped from four stars to three. BI suffered from high staff turnover. The B777s deal was off as they are unwilling to pay for refurbishment etc.

 

Now that they are looking to acquire/ lease B777s again. Fingers crossed, hope that it will happened this time. Brunei doesn't have enough population to support huge number of widebody. 4 or 5 at most. It really need to rely on the transiting pax to support the need, especially the Kangaroo route. Last time they even updated their inflight Entertainment Guide with B777s system even though it was pretty obvious it wouldn't come at all. As for narrowbody, I foresee that the Airbuses will be disposed off in near future to make way for new B737NGs.

 

Also with them swinging Boeing side again, lets hope they get things done right. BI paid heavily for over expansion last time. Now with MEL, BAH, LAX, FRA, NRT, BJS and Chennai....thats loads of route, although some are resumption of previous destinations

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BJS? You mean PEK (Beijing Capital Airport)?

 

haha, sorry for the mistake. Ya...its Peking (Beijing Capital Airport). Last time when BI was still flying Beijing, their code was BJS. I am 98.25% sure about this.

Edited by JuliusWong

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I read that BJS is the IATA code for all airports in Beijing. PEK is the IATA airport code for Beijing Capital (formerly known in the West as "Peking" capital airport and before the standardisation of Chinese pronunciation with Hanyu Pinyin, hence the PEK code).

 

It is rather unprofessional for Royal Brunei to list Beijing as BJS instead of PEK. :blink:

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Could it mean BI is going to fly to nanyun instead of PEK :rolleyes:

 

I read that BJS is the IATA code for all airports in Beijing. PEK is the IATA airport code for Beijing Capital (formerly known in the West as "Peking" capital airport and before the standardisation of Chinese pronunciation with Hanyu Pinyin, hence the PEK code).

 

It is rather unprofessional for Royal Brunei to list Beijing as BJS instead of PEK. :blink:

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