Royal Brunei Airlines Launches Direct Flight to Chennai.
Strengthening Ties Between Brunei an d India
Chennai, 6th November 2024—Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) proudly announc ed the official launch of its new direct flight route between Bandar Seri Bega wan and Chennai, India.
RB’s Airbus A320neo landed at Chenn ai International Airport on the 5th of November 2024 at approximately 22: 50LT and was greeted by a water cann non salute. This new connection signi fies a significant expansion in RB’s glo bal network. It marks a historic step in strengthening the cultural, economic, and people-to-people ties between Bru nei Darussalam and India.
The airline celebrated the launch in Ch ennai through a series of events in coll aboration with the Brunei High Comm ission in India, the Brunei Economic a nd Development Board (BEDB), and Br unei Tourism (BT) at the ITC Grand Ch ola in Chennai, aimed at strengthening partnerships, promoting Brunei as a u nique destination, and showcasing in vestment opportunities for Indian busi nesses.
RB’s CEO, Chief Commercial Officer, ST IC Travel Group (RB’s agent in India) a nd Brunei Tourism representatives he ld a press conference, where they intr oduced Brunei and the new route and spoke on the broader significance of th is connection for both nations.
In collaboration with BEDB, an inves tment seminar was organised for India n business leaders. BEDB representa ti ves presented Brunei’s attractive inves tment landscape, which includes a sta ble political environment, modern inf rastructure, and strategic access to the ASEAN market. This session fostered c onnections between Indian businesses and Bruneian representatives, promot ing partnerships in crucial trade, tech nology, and tourism sectors.
The highlight of the celebrations, Brun ei Night, showcased Brunei’s rich cult ure and hospitality with traditional Br uneian performances and a special ad dress from H.E. Dato Paduka Hj Alaihu ddin Mohd Taha, the High Commiss io ner of Brunei Darussalam to India. The occasion commemorated the 40th anni versary of formal diplomatic relations between Brunei and India, reflecting on decades of mutual friendship and p artnership that have fostered growth and understanding across both nation s.
The Chief Guest for the event was The Honorable Dr T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister of Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Tamil Nadu whereas the G uest of Honour was His Excellency Sh ri S Vijayakumar, Head of the Ministry of External Affairs Branch in Chennai. Also in attendance was Shri B. Krishn amoorthy, IOFS, Project Director, Tam il Nadu Industrial Development Corpo ration, as the Special Guest.
Captain Sabirin bin Hj Abdul Hamid, CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines, remark ed during the celebrations “Launching this new route is more than just a flig ht connection; it is a bridge between t wo nations. We are excited to open ne w opportunities for tourism, trade, an d cultural exchange between Brunei a nd India. This route connects Bruneia ns and our international guests to the vibrant city of Chennai and the many experiences it has to offer, and it enha nces travel options for those from Ind ia wishing to explore the peaceful bea uty of Brunei Darussalam.”
Royal Brunei Airlines’ new route offe rs three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Th ursdays, and Saturdays, providing sea mless travel for leisure and business passengers. Passengers will travel abo ard the modern Airbus A320neo, know wn for its quiet and fuel-efficient perfo rmance. With the strategic codeshare agreement with Air India, passengers flying to and from Chennai can easily connect to other major destinations in RB’s network, including Melbourne, H ong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Seoul, M anila, and Taipei.
Since formal diplomatic ties were est ablished in 1984, India and Brunei ha ve enjoyed a lasting partnership enri ched by a shared heritage and a comit ment to development. This new route launch aligns with India’s Prime Mini ster Modi’s vision for an ASEAN-India Tourism Year in 2025 and supports inc reased travel, business exchanges, and cultural interactions.
Captain Haji Sabirin noted, “This new route exemplifies our support for Bru nei’s Wawasan 2035 vision to create a dynamic and globally connected econ omy. We are delighted to be part of th is journey, promoting Brunei as a hid den gem for Indian travellers who wis h to experience tranquillity, natural beauty, and a unique cultural heritage
Royal Brunei Airlines remains commi tted to its mission of connecting Brun ei with the world, delivering exceptio nal travel experiences and fostering in ternational partnerships. The Chennai route is a promising step toward stron ger regional ties and underscores RB’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Indian market. RB’s Airbus A320 neo aircraft will serve the route and e nsure passengers enjoy the latest comf ort, technology, and efficiency with RB ’s world-renowned cabin crew offering the signature Bruneian hospitality tha t RB is known for globally.