Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Royal Brunei Airlines is set to return to Indian skies after a two-decade hiatus, launching a direct flight service between Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, and Chennai, starting November 5. This marks the airline’s re-entry into India following the suspension of its Kolkata service after the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York. Founded in 1974, Royal Brunei Airlines is the national carrier of Brunei, wholly owned by the government.
The airline offers scheduled services across Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and the UK. Announcing the new route on social media, the airline invited travelers to explore Chennai, describing it as a city with rich history, vibrant culture, and exquisite cuisine: “Chennai calls! Get ready to immerse yourself in a city full of rich history, vibrant culture, and mouth-watering flavours. Follow your heart to South India and discover Chennai.
” The new Chennai service will operate thrice weekly—on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Tickets will be available for booking from Monday, August 26, 2024, through the airline’s website, www.flyRB.
com, or through preferred travel agents. Isha Goyal, CEO of STIC Travel Group and General Sales Agent for Royal Brunei Airlines, highlighted the significance of the Indian diaspora in Brunei, noting that the new direct route will facilitate one-stop travel to Australia for leisure, education, and family visits, as well as cater to corporate and business travelers to Brunei and the surrounding region. “Based on our initial market feasibility, we evaluated various gateways in India and found the Chennai market to be best suited,” Goyal explained to Businessline .
In 2023, a total of 1,252 passengers traveled from Chennai to Brunei. Additionally, 16,578 passengers traveled to Melbourne and 22,500 to Incheon, South Korea, via transit airports like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The new Brunei route will offer a convenient alternative for these travelers starting in November, Goyal added.
Economy fares for the Chennai-Brunei-Chennai route will be ₹27,640, while business class fares will be ₹42,679. The inaugural flight from Bandar Seri Begawan will depart on November 5, with Tuesday and Thursday flights leaving at 20:00 hours and arriving in Chennai at 22:50 hours. The return flight from Chennai will depart at 23:50 hours, reaching Brunei at 07:55 hours the next day.
On Saturdays, the flight will leave Brunei at 00:30 hours, arriving in Chennai at 03:20 hours, with the return leg departing at 04:20 hours and arriving back in Brunei at 12:25 hours..
