Royal Brunei Airlines (BI, Bandar Seri Begawan) has ordered four B787-9s during the 2024 Singapore Air Show to renew its widebody fleet, which currently comprises five B787-8s.
The Bruneian flag carrier expects the deliveries to begin in the second half of 2028. While the news release specified that the aircraft would be for renewal of the widebody fleet, CEO Sabirin bin Haji Abdul Hamid said during a press conference that this was "still under consideration, although leaning towards replacement" of the -8s.
"Royal Brunei Airlines has been operating the B787-8 for the last ten years, and this order will ensure we continue with a product that our customers have come to enjoy," Hamid said. "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 added that the airline had good experience working with Boeing and wanted to keep its fleet simple without changing the widebody manufacturer.
The order was already finalised as a purchase directly from the manufacturer and includes a further two purchase rights.
Royal Brunei Airlines currently operates five B787-8s with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. It has yet to select the engine provider for the -9s. As an early customer for the B787, Royal Brunei's aircraft of the type are currently 9.4 years old on average. The ch-aviation fleets module shows it also operates seven A320-200Ns and has had a single A320-200 in storage at Kuala Lumpur International since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The airline deploys its B787-8s on services out of Bandar Seri Begawan to Hong Kong International, Dubai International, Jeddah International, London Heathrow, and Melbourne Tullamarine, as well as regionally to Malaysia and Singapore Changi. Hamid said the airline was exploring options for network growth with the -9s, including within the region and on the Indian subcontinent. New routes could be announced "later this year", he added.
