Royal Brunei Airlines' Announcement at the Singapore Airshow
Boeing and state-owned Royal Brunei Airlines issued a joint statement on February 20, announcing the latter’s purchase of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners to bolster its commercial airliner fleet. The USD 1.2 billion investment is aimed to further encourage travel and tourism to Brunei. The declaration was made amidst the biennial Singapore Airshow held from February 20-25, at which the Brunei-based carrier led its country’s delegation to the aerospace event.
A pioneer in its industry, Royal Brunei Airlines was the first ASEAN-based carrier to fly 787 Dreamliners over a decade ago. The Airline maintains 5 of the aircraft as part of its 13-vessel fleetand is set to expand by about 33% with this new order. Boeing’s 2023 Commercial Market Outlook report forecasts approximately 7% annual fleet growth within ASEAN over the next 20 years.
This industry growth is significant for relatively smaller markets such as Brunei. “The new fleet will allow us the potential to tap into new growth areas, strengthening our market appeal” said Sabirin Bin Haji Abdul Hamid, CEO of Royal Brunei Airlines. Civil aviation is just one of many sectors Brunei is reinvigorating in its grand economic diversification strategy.