Royal Brunei

ICAO: RBA Active as of Dec 11, 2025

43

Active Routes

1207

Flight Observations

27

Unique Destinations

17

Origin Airports

2112

Avg Route Distance (mi)

7016

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

43

International Routes
About Royal Brunei

Royal Brunei Airlines (ICAO: RBA) is the national flag carrier of Brunei, known for its focus on Bruneian hospitality and a modern fleet.

Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) was established on November 18, 1974, as the flag carrier of Brunei, wholly owned by the Government of Brunei Darussalam. Its inaugural flight took off on May 14, 1975, connecting Bandar Seri Begawan with Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching, utilizing an initial fleet of two Boeing 737-200 aircraft. The airline's main hub and operational base is Brunei International Airport (BWN), located in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city.

The current fleet primarily comprises Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners for its long-haul routes and Airbus A320neo aircraft for regional and short-haul operations. The airline's route network is international, serving 22-32 destinations across Asia (including Southeast Asia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong, Philippines), the Middle East (Dubai, Jeddah), Australia (Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth), and Europe (London Heathrow). Royal Brunei Airlines is not a member of any major global airline alliance such as Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld. However, it maintains codeshare agreements with several airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Garuda Indonesia, and a marketing partnership with Singapore Airlines.

Royal Brunei Airlines offers two main cabin classes: Business Class and Economy Class. Business Class on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner features comfortable lie-flat seats, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges. Economy Class provides ergonomic seating with adjustable headrests, in-flight entertainment, complimentary meals, and power outlets. A notable characteristic of Royal Brunei Airlines, adhering to Brunei's Islamic principles, is that it operates as a "dry" airline, meaning no alcoholic beverages are served onboard. The airline also provides halal meals to its passengers. Its frequent flyer program is called Royal Skies.

What Travelers Say

Traveler reviews for Royal Brunei Airlines generally highlight a positive experience, though with some recurring areas for improvement.

What Travelers Love:

  • Friendly and professional cabin crew: Many travelers consistently praise the airline's staff for their warmth, attentiveness, and professional service, often describing them as some of the best in economy class.
  • Comfortable seating, especially on the Boeing 787: Passengers appreciate the spaciousness and comfort of the seats, particularly the lie-flat beds in Business Class and the generous legroom in Economy Class on the 787 Dreamliner.
  • Good value for money: Several reviews indicate that Royal Brunei Airlines offers competitive fares, making it an attractive option for certain routes.
  • Halal and Muslim-friendly services: The airline is recognized for providing halal meals and catering to Muslim travelers, earning it the "Muslim-Friendly Airline of The Year" award in 2024.

Common Complaints:

  • Dated in-flight entertainment (IFE) system: Some passengers find the IFE screens small, the user interface slow, and the movie selection limited, suggesting an outdated system, especially on older 787 aircraft.
  • Website and online check-in issues: Travelers have reported glitches and difficulties with the airline's website, particularly when attempting online check-in from mobile devices.
  • Inconsistent food quality/quantity: While some find the food good, others have noted that the quality is average or that the meal portions on longer flights can be insufficient.
  • Flight delays and disruption management: There have been instances of significant flight delays, with some passengers expressing dissatisfaction over how these disruptions and associated accommodations were handled.
  • No alcohol service: For travelers accustomed to alcoholic beverages onboard, the airline's "dry" policy can be a point of disappointment, though it aligns with Brunei's cultural and religious practices.

Overall, Royal Brunei Airlines is often regarded as a good, reliable airline, particularly praised for its exceptional cabin crew and comfortable long-haul experience at competitive prices. However, modernizing its in-flight entertainment and improving online functionalities and consistency in food service could further enhance the passenger experience.

Safety Information

Royal Brunei Airlines maintains a strong overall safety record. The airline has received a 7-star safety rating from AirlineRatings.com. In 2021, it also received the highest seven-star rating for its COVID-19 response from airlineratings.com. The airline emphasizes that safety is its main priority and that it never compromises on it.

The most notable incident in the airline's history was the crash of Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 839 in 1997. This Dornier 228 aircraft, owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated and maintained by Malaysian regional carrier Hornbill Airways, crashed on approach to Miri, resulting in the deaths of all 10 people on board. Since this incident, Royal Brunei Airlines has maintained a fatality-free record. More recent, non-fatal incidents include an engine shutdown on a Boeing 787 near Manila in 2015, a cargo fire indication on a Boeing 777 in 2012, and a power bank in thermal runaway on an Airbus A320neo in 2019.

Royal Brunei Airlines has passed all 3 of 3 audits it has undergone, according to AirlineRatings.com. While specific mentions of IOSA or FAA certifications are not detailed in the provided information, the high safety rating and international operations imply adherence to stringent global aviation standards.

The airline operates a relatively modern fleet. As of September 2022, the average age of its fleet was 6.3 years, with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners averaging 7.9 years and Airbus A320neo aircraft averaging 4.1 years. As of December 2024, the five Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners averaged 10.1 years, and the seven Airbus A320neos averaged 6.4 years, bringing the overall fleet average to 8.3 years. The airline is currently undertaking a fleet renewal program, including an order for four Boeing 787-9 aircraft, aiming for a complete fleet renewal and one of the youngest fleets in the Asia/Pacific region. Maintenance and overhaul operations are reportedly conducted both in-house by Royal Brunei Engineering and by overseas partners like Air France or Lufthansa.

Based on available data, Royal Brunei Airlines maintains a strong overall safety assessment. Its high safety rating, fatality-free record since 1997, and ongoing fleet modernization efforts contribute to its reputation as a safe airline.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
BWN → KUL
Brunei International Airport → Kuala Lumpur Int'l
926 miles
143 flights
A20N
BWN → SIN
Brunei International Airport → Singapore Changi
795 miles
138 flights
A20N
BWN → BKI
Brunei International Airport → Kota Kinabalu Int'l
103 miles
100 flights
A20N
66 flights
A20N
BWN → HKG
Brunei International Airport → Hong Kong Int'l
1203 miles
61 flights
A20N
BWN → CGK
Brunei International Airport → Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
955 miles
60 flights
A20N
56 flights
A20N
BWN → BKK
Brunei International Airport → Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
1140 miles
55 flights
A20N
BWN → MEL
Brunei International Airport → Melbourne Tullamarine
3520 miles
53 flights
B788
49 flights
A20N
Top Destinations
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
143 flights
1 route
SIN (WSSS)
Singapore Changi
Singapore
138 flights
1 route
BWN (WBSB)
Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
118 flights
14 routes
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
100 flights
1 route
MNL (RPLL)
Manila Int'l
Metro Manila
66 flights
1 route
HKG (VHHH)
Hong Kong Int'l
Hong Kong
61 flights
1 route
CGK (WIII)
Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
60 flights
1 route
SUB (WARR)
Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
56 flights
1 route
BKK (VTBS)
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
55 flights
1 route
MEL (YMML)
Melbourne Tullamarine
Melbourne
53 flights
1 route
Top Origin Airports
BWN (WBSB)
Brunei International Airport
Bandar Seri Begawan
1084 flights
25 routes
SIN (WSSS)
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore
32 flights
2 routes
SUB (WARR)
Juanda International Airport
Surabaya
14 flights
1 route
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Sepang
14 flights
1 route
PKX (ZBAD)
Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing
13 flights
1 route
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu
12 flights
1 route
KCH (WBGG)
Kuching International Airport
Kuching
8 flights
1 route
MNL (RPLL)
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Manila (Pasay)
7 flights
1 route
BPN (WALL)
Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport
Balikpapan
7 flights
1 route
BKK (VTBS)
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Bangkok
5 flights
1 route
Top Border Crossing Flights
KUL (WMKK)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Sepang, MY
143 flights
1 route
SIN (WSSS)
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore, SG
138 flights
1 route
BWN (WBSB)
Brunei International Airport
Bandar Seri Begawan, BN
118 flights
14 routes
BKI (WBKK)
Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu, MY
100 flights
1 route
MNL (RPLL)
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Metro Manila, PH
66 flights
1 route
HKG (VHHH)
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong, HK
61 flights
1 route
CGK (WIII)
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Tangerang, ID
60 flights
1 route
SUB (WARR)
Juanda International Airport
Surabaya, ID
56 flights
1 route
Longest Routes
BWN → LGW
Brunei International Airport → London Gatwick
7016 mi
LGW → BWN
London Gatwick Airport → Brunei Int'l
7016 mi
BWN → JED
Brunei International Airport → King Abdulaziz Int'l
5185 mi
JED → BWN
King Abdulaziz International Airport → Brunei Int'l
5185 mi
BWN → MED
Brunei International Airport → Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz
5154 mi
Shortest Routes
BKI → BWN
Kota Kinabalu International Airport → Brunei Int'l
103 mi
BWN → BKI
Brunei International Airport → Kota Kinabalu Int'l
103 mi
ITM → NRT
Osaka International Airport → Narita Int'l
287 mi
BWN → KCH
Brunei International Airport → Kuching Int'l
397 mi
KCH → BWN
Kuching International Airport → Brunei Int'l
397 mi
All Routes
43 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
BWN → KUL Kuala Lumpur Int'l
Sepang
143 926 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → SIN Singapore Changi
Singapore
138 795 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → BKI Kota Kinabalu Int'l
Kota Kinabalu
100 103 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → MNL Manila Int'l
Metro Manila
66 781 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → HKG Hong Kong Int'l
Hong Kong
61 1203 mi A20N Dec 9, 2025
BWN → CGK Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l
Tangerang
60 955 mi A20N Dec 9, 2025
BWN → SUB Juanda Int'l
Surabaya
56 865 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → BKK Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int'l
Bangkok
55 1140 mi A20N Dec 9, 2025
BWN → MEL Melbourne Tullamarine
Melbourne
53 3520 mi B788 Dec 11, 2025
BWN → KCH Kuching Int'l
Kuching
49 397 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
BWN → NRT Narita Int'l
Tokyo (Narita)
39 2678 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → ICN Incheon Int'l
Seoul (Incheon)
35 2364 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
BWN → TPE Taiwan Taoyuan Int'l
Taipei
34 1454 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
BWN → SGN Tan Son Nhat Int'l
Ho Chi Minh City
33 697 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
BWN → DXB Dubai Int'l
Dubai
31 4181 mi B788 Dec 11, 2025
SIN → BWN Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
31 795 mi A20N Nov 7, 2025
BWN → MAA Chennai Int'l
Chennai / Madras
25 2435 mi A20N Dec 11, 2025
BWN → BPN Sepinggan Int'l
Balikpapan
23 451 mi A20N Dec 9, 2025
BWN → NNG Nanning Wuxu Int'l
Nanning
22 1303 mi A20N Dec 9, 2025
BWN → PKX Beijing Daxing International Airport
Beijing
21 2392 mi A20N Dec 7, 2025
BWN → JED King Abdulaziz Int'l
Jeddah
21 5185 mi B788 Dec 9, 2025
SUB → BWN Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
14 865 mi A20N Dec 5, 2025
KUL → BWN Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
14 926 mi A20N Nov 15, 2025
PKX → BWN Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
13 2392 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
BKI → BWN Brunei Int'l
Bandar Seri Begawan
12 103 mi A20N Dec 8, 2025
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Dec 11, 2025 06:04
Coverage: Observed routes only