Royal Brunei Airlines Expands Fleet with Four Boeing 787-9 Aircraft Orders

Royal Brunei Airlines is set to rejuvenate its widebody fleet with an order for four B787-9 aircraft, announced at the 2024 Singapore Air Show. Currently operating five B787-8s, the national carrier of Brunei aims to commence the delivery of the new aircraft in the latter half of 2028. Although the airline indicated the order is for fleet renewal purposes, CEO Sabirin bin Haji Abdul Hamid mentioned during a press briefing that the decision on whether to replace the -8 variants is still under consideration but is inclined towards substitution.

CEO Hamid expressed the airline’s satisfaction with the B787-8’s performance over the past decade and looks forward to continuing the tradition with the newer -9 variants. “The new fleet will allow us the potential to tap into new growth areas, strengthening our market appeal and enabling us to provide a superior travel experience to our guests,” he stated. The choice to continue partnering with Boeing for its widebody fleet underscores Royal Brunei’s strategy for maintaining a streamlined and efficient fleet.

Included in the order are two additional purchase rights, allowing the airline flexibility for future expansion. Although the engine supplier for the B787-9s has not yet been decided, the current B787-8 fleet is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The average age of Royal Brunei’s B787-8s stands at 9.4 years, indicating a timely decision for fleet renewal.

Apart from its widebody operations, Royal Brunei Airlines maintains a narrowbody fleet of seven A320-200Ns, with an A320-200 in storage since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The B787-8s serve key international routes, including flights to Hong Kong, Dubai, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Melbourne, and regional destinations in Malaysia and Singapore.

With the addition of the B787-9s, CEO Hamid revealed plans for network expansion, particularly in the region and the Indian subcontinent. The airline anticipates announcing new routes “later this year,” leveraging the enhanced capabilities and increased range of the B787-9s to explore new growth opportunities and enhance its service offerings to passengers.